Day at the Statehouse a Success

 This past Tuesday, OAHU held its 18th Annual Day at the Statehouse in Columbus attended by approximately 65 OAHU members.  The meeting portion of the day was an opportunity for our members to hear comments from three of the key members in the Ohio Legislature.  They were: Representative Barbara Sears (an OAHU member) who is the ranking member on the House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee and a member of the House Finance Committee; Senator Steve Buehrer, Chair of the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee; and Matt Szollosi, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Ohio House.  All provided timely and insightful comments concerning their views on the importance of maintaining a competitive private Ohio health insurance market.

 The afternoon portion of the day provided an opportunity for OAHU to thank all our members who have recognized the importance of having an effective state legislative program by supporting OAHU PAC during 2008 and 2009.  We then heard an update from Megan Mamarella, NPCA Director of State Affairs for Regions 3, 4 and 6, concerning the recent re-authorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Megan focused her comments on the portion of the re-authorization bill which creates a framework for the use of CHIP funds in the private market.

 The rest of the afternoon gave OAHU members the opportunity to participate in 48 meetings with their local legislators.  The day then concluded with our legislative reception that was attended by 47 legislators and their aides.  All-in-all it was a very productive day for OAHU members to get to know their legislators better and to explain the vital role health insurance agents and brokers bring to the table by providing affordable health insurance that meets the needs of Ohioans.

 

 House Passes State Budget

 This past Wednesday, the Ohio House passed their version of the biennial budget by a party-line vote of 53 democrats for the bill and 46 republicans against the bill.  Added to the bill was H.B. 8, the autism coverage mandate bill that had recently been passed out of the House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee.  The only major change to this very broad autism bill was the placement of an annual cap of $36,000 per enrollee that an insurer must pay for autism-related treatments.  The Senate has already started hearings on the bill and has tentatively set June 2, 2009 as a possible vote on the bill.  Difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill will have to be worked out in a joint House-Senate Conference Committee to have the budget enacted by July 1, 2009.

---