Rio Grande Association of Health Underwriters

Anne Sperling reminded the committee members that all reports must be given in writing because the National Legislative Council expects to keep close track of the regions and states this year and needs the RLCs to submit their reports in writing.

Washington Update:

Jennifer Hillert spoke about the Operation Shout that went to the members regarding Medicare Rx pricing negotiations. She said that “if” it makes it through the Senate, the President has promised to veto the bill. Legislative priorities are different this year from past years and they will include mental health parity and genetic discrimination. AHPs will not be on the agenda this year. The book of legislators and their aids will not be ready for Cap. Con. NAHU will be sending the book after the event. Jennifer asked that each state send her their list of congressional appointments as soon as they are finalized. Her email address is jhillert@nahu.org.

State Reports:

Arizona: Jeff Gennaro gave an oral report. AZ legislative session has officially started. It is expected that there will be Legislation to expand the AZ Healthcare Group by eliminating the 6-month crowd out provision. There is a bill to expand SCHIP program to 300% of FPL, and $20 million of GF money to do it. Governor does not want to expand the private marketplace options for the uninsured. The risk pool idea seems to be losing steam. AZ really needs rate relief with a small group rate and Renewability law similar to the NAIC model. 2 Dems took the place of Reps so; AZ AHU is building new relationships. Universal health care is not going anywhere, but is getting a lot of media attention. Sending 10 members to Cap. Con. Day on the hill will be a small event at the beginning of March.

Colorado: Allan Jensen gave an oral report and followed up with a written report. General Assembly started on 1/10/07. Bills introduced and reviewed so far include Multi-state Rx pools, MEWA access bill, Risk writing Medicare Supplement plans, mental health parity to non-biological conditions, DD early intervention, LTCi partnership. GOP leader has drafted a “Connector” bill. 208 Commission continue to work through its subcommittees. The next full meeting of the 208 Commission will be to approve the solicitation for an evaluation firm and the framework and criteria for the solicitation for proposals for reform. This meeting will be at the end of January. Amendment 41 prohibits legislators from gratuities in excess of $50.00 per year – thus, the CO Day on the Hill has been eliminated for more grass roots efforts. CO is searching for a legislator to carry a carrier transparency bill. CO has a new DOI commissioner named Marcy Morrison. She served as a state legislator, county commissioner, city councilor, and mayor prior to this appointment. She has been somewhat antagonistic toward the insurance industry and CO members are trying to arrange a meeting with her.

Idaho: Tom Shores submitted a written report and orally delivered the report along with Linda LaMott. Idaho mailed a letter to each of its legislators introducing their lobbyist. On Feb. 9, 2007 Idaho members will have dinner with key legislators and will distribute the Council for Affordable Health Care’s “Solutions and Glossary” to them as a discussion piece. Idaho’s legislative committee meets by teleconference each Friday morning during the session to discuss legislation. The first call will be 1/19/07. Governor wants a health care summit this summer and Idaho members are trying to get a seat at the summit. Day on the Hill is February 1, 2007. The first training for the LTCi partnerships is set for 2/18/07. Bill Deal is the new Idaho DOI director. Bill understands the insurance industry very well and served in the legislature. There is a bill to provide more funding for community health centers in the state to aid the uninsured. Idaho has 8 members going to Cap. Con. and all but one congressional appointment are made. The College of Pathologists submitted a bill to mandate direct billing of services to patients to hedge against duplicate billing by the facilities.

Montana: Max Graham delivered an oral report. Montana will be fighting a “big box” bill this year. They have bills that address raising SCHIP funding to 185% FPL, all construction workers are mandated to have health coverage, newborns must be covered from birth, mandate that all schools participate in the public school insurance plan, and opening the state government employees plan to the public. Max Graham will be attending Cap. Con. for Montana this year. Their first Day on the Hill will take place while Max is in DC.

New Mexico: Kay Knutson’s alternate, Nancy Johnson delivered Kay’s oral report. Anne Sperling also added to the oral report. Anne subsequently submitted a written report for NM.

The NM Legislature opens today at noon. The Governor will outline his health care plans for the session during his State of the State address. His plans include expanding our 1115 waiver (SCI) to 300% of FPL, removing the 12-month crowd-out provision on the Small Employer Insurance Plan (SEIP) for non-profits (this is a state employee plan that is open to the public), expanding Medicaid to all adults at 100% FPL, mandating contractors to the state offer health insurance to their employees, and studying Universal Health Care proposals for the state with a final report due in June 2007. The Governor has a surplus budget by $1.2 billion from oil and gas.

NM’s Day on the Hill is scheduled for February 13, 2007. A panel of legislators will speak including both the Minority Whip in the House and the Majority Whip in the Senate and our new Superintendent of Insurance, Mo Chavez. This is a joint effort organized with NAIFA NM.

NM is sending 11 members to Cap. Con. this year. All congressmen and woman have been contacted for appointments and 2 appointments are arranged so far.

Anne Sperling spoke before the Leadership NM Association last Friday with a panel of 2 others: NM Hospital Association and Presbyterian Medical Services, (PMS). PMS is responsible for delivering health care to the rural areas of the state and the presenter did a fine job in outlining the challenges of that task. The speaker for the Hospital Association continued to complain about under funding, the uninsured arriving to ERs, rural areas that are underserved. Anne spoke about the Governor’s health care plans and what it was to be an insurance agent today. The audience directed most of the Q&A to Anne – 20 minutes worth.

NM is experiencing difficulty with its lobbyist. The lobbyist seems despondent and uninterested in establishing legislative relationships this year. We are on contract for this year, but next year NM will need to get proposals for new lobbyists.

NM’s approach of monitoring bills includes the lobbyist and Anne Sperling reviewing the introductions on a daily basis, picking the bills that are worthwhile to track, The NMSAHU Leg. Chair (Kay Knutson), RGAHU Leg. Chair (Anne Sperling), and NAIFA NM Leg. Chair (Jim McDaniel) are responsible for reviewing the bills, pegging bills as ones we “support”, “against”, or “no opinion”, and put a report out to the membership as soon as those conclusions are reached and place the report on our web site.

Utah: Gina Dalton delivered the oral report for Utah. Utah was happy to report that they were successful in getting a finders fee attached to their uninsurable pool plan in the amount of $50.00 per application. February 5, 2007 is scheduled for their Day on the Hill and they sent personal invitations to legislators. Utah is sending 15 members to Cap. Con. They are expecting bills addressing obesity and transparency. Utah has a luncheon planned with legislators that was initiated by the legislators to talk about other health care initiatives – they wanted to get the Utah NAHU members’ point of view on it!! The Utah session is for 45 days this year.

Discussions:

Capitol Conference: Anne asked that each of the state legislative chairs submit their congressional appointments to Jennifer, that each leg. chair be prepared to talk during the regional meeting at Cap. Con., and be prepared with R7 topics for the legislative breakout during Cap. Con.

Old Business:

Employer Mandate White Paper – not done

Individual Mandate White Paper – done and approved by BOT

Federal vs. State Regulation White Paper – done and approved by BOT

New Business:

Consultant for “Connector” FAQ and answers – NAHU hired a consultant for $30K out of the legislative defense fund to study the Connector proposals and to put a report together for the membership to use in their states.

Canadian vs. USA health care – Reid Rasmussen – be on the alert for his breakout session during Cap. Con.

Reminder of the Next Call:

February 27, 2007

9:00 AM