HEALTHCARE DEBATE HEATS UP

As reported in a previous OAHU Legislative Week in Review, a group called Health Care for America Now held a news conference on July 8th in Columbus which was one of the cities involved in the coalition’s nationwide kick-off of their campaign for affordable health care. The labor-backed group believes that what a person pays for health insurance should be based on their income.

Another group that has developed a plan to address the uninsured problem is the health insurance industry’s national trade association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). AHIP’s effort is called the Campaign for an American Solution which launched its effort in Columbus today (July 22) with a roundtable discussion with people who are uninsured and community leaders.  When the Health Care for America Now coalition got wind of this event they held a rally outside of the Columbus YWCA where the AHIP meeting was taking place.  Their apparent objective was to show that they don’t plan on working cooperatively with the health insurance industry to address the problems of the uninsured.

Key elements of the AHIP plan are:

1. Making all uninsured persons living in poverty eligible for Medicaid.
2. Strengthening the Children’s Health Insurance Program to include all children from low-income uninsured families.
3. Create a health care coverage tax credit for working families.
4. Create a new tax-free portable health account that can be used to purchase any type of health care coverage.
5. Establish a new federal performance grant program to assist states in expanding access to coverage, reducing costs and improving quality.

RAUSSEN & SPADA WITHDRAW FROM HOUSE RACES

In what could negatively impact the Republicans’ chances of retaining control of the Ohio House, Representative Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati) and term-limited State Senator Bob Spada (R-North Royalton) yesterday withdrew from their respective House races.  Raussen, Chair of the House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee, has taken an appointment effective August 18th in the Strickland Administration as the state’s new Director of Insurance and Financial Development. Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as the state’s Director of the Ohio Department of Development, announced the appointment by saying: “With Ohio’s insurance industry growth outpacing the industry’s national growth, this new role is designed to work intimately with our insurance industry to position Ohio as an attractive location for an insurer to expand or locate.”

Senator Spada, who is term-limited at the end of this year, had filed to run for the 18th House District currently held by Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) who is running for Spada’s Senate seat.  There is speculation that Spada could be appointed by Governor Strickland to the State Employees Retirement Board.

---