Healthcare
At the State Government Leadership Foundation, we support access to affordable, common sense healthcare provided by the current healthcare industry. We are opposed to the over-reaching, government-run health care system that will demolish healthy competition, service quality and patient privacy. Consumers are better off when they control how their money is spent and have a broader choice of health care policies and plans. The SGLF supports healthcare reforms that protect providers from junk lawsuits, encourage innovative state programs, and promote healthier lifestyles.
As one of the largest pieces of federal and state budgets, health care is an issue that the SGLF is deeply invested in. Due to the expansion of Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and other state and public health care programs, government is in control of a large part of the health sector.
Our current system is flawed and change must come at both the federal and state levels. Individuals and families should be able to both own and control their own health care policies and take them with them from job to job without penalties. They should also be able to purchase these plans at a price they wish to pay and that are in line with their own needs.
In order to accomplish these goals, states – and not the federal government – should be determining what health care system or model works best for their individual state.
Steps to creating a better health care system
1: Place Control and Money in Consumers’ Hands
- Limit regulations
- Provide better information to help patients and doctors make more informed treatment decisions
2: Align Expectations with Reality
- Promote fiscally responsible competition within Medicare – bids against each other
- Allow all plans greater flexibility to develop innovative plans
3: Create Accountability in the Health System
- Provide better access to affordable private insurance
- Reform medical liability system – limit malpractice awards
News & Articles
Health care reform bills hit roadblock in Legislature
House lawmakers postponed a floor vote Monday on House Bill 4164, a bill that would allow the state to move forward with plans to create a health insurance exchange. The bill, which had received no opposition during public hearings, was referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
In the Senate, Republicans plan to block passage of another bill today if it doesn't include medical liability tort reform. Senate Bill 1580, which is scheduled for a floor vote, would provide legislative approval for an implementation plan to overhaul the state's Medicaid program.
Catholic bishops group denounces contraception compromise, says 'raises serious moral concern'
"Today's proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions," the statement said.
Minn. Lawmakers Set To Resume Health Insurance Exchange Fight
Minnesota Public Radio: Lawmakers To Resume Debate Over Health Exchange The debate over a key part of the federal health care overhaul heats up again at the state capitol. GOP Sen. David W. Hann opposes the health care law and will hold a committee hearing Tuesday morning to discuss insurance exchanges. The exchanges are online marketplaces to allow consumers and small businesses buy health insurance based on detailed comparisons of competing plans (Stawicki, 1/31).
Health care overhaul lags in states
This is the year that will make or break the health care law. States were supposed to be partners in carrying out the biggest safety net expansion since Medicare and Medicaid, and the White House claims they're making steady progress.
But an analysis by The Associated Press shows that states are moving in fits and starts. Combined with new insurance coverage estimates from the nonpartisan Urban Institute, it reveals a patchwork nation.
Should Everyone Be Required to Have Health Insurance?
Supporters of the mandate—which is the central issue in the case before the Supreme Court challenging the law—argue that it's the key to making health care more affordable and accessible to everyone. By expanding the pool of insured, the thinking goes, the burden of paying for the sick is covered by all.
Budget would create health insurance exchange
The controversial Health Benefit Exchange would facilitate the competitive purchase and sale of health care plans for consumers, its proponents say, and would allow small businesses to enroll their employees in health care programs in New York state.
Should Virginia act or wait on health insurance exchanges?
Six bills have been filed in the legislature proposing varying ways to set up a benefits exchange, which is required under the federal health-care reform law that McDonnell opposes and the state hopes to overturn in the U.S. Supreme Court.
But the governor is discouraging legislators from approving any of the bills during this session, despite looming federal deadlines that some lawmakers and insurers fear will leave Virginia with a less-competitive federal exchange for individuals and small businesses to buy health benefits.
Walker turning down $37 million for health care
Walker announced in December that Wisconsin would not pursue implementing the exchange until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the law.
But he did not say whether the state would take the money. On Wednesday Walker said he was notifying the federal government that Wisconsin was turning down the Early Innovator Grant, saying it didn't make sense to commit to reforms that could have a devastating economic impact.
Customers And Business Owners Turning To HSAs
According to data obtained from insurance giant Golden Rule, the HSA deduction, which can be found on line 25 on your Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, is deductible up to $3,050 for individuals and up to $6,150 for families.
Dates set for Supreme Court health care reform arguments
The court announced Monday it will hear 5½ hours of arguments spread over three days March 26-28.
States get flexibility to design benefits under health care reform
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department issued long-awaited guidelines for minimum benefits required in both the subsidized state exchanges and ongoing private plans for small groups.
Survey: Doctors Have Mixed Feelings About Health Law
Some 44% of doctors said the law was “a good start,” according to a survey carried out by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions consulting group. Another 44% agreed that the law was “a step in the wrong direction.”
GOP Govs Release Medicaid Reform Report
The Republican Governors Public Policy Committee released today a report detailing 31 policy solutions for reforming Medicaid.
The Defined Contribution Route to Health Care Choice and Competition
Most Americans are in government-subsidized insurance arrangements that largely insulate them from the cost of insurance and care. Open-ended federal support for health insurance coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, and the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) plans is the major reason the federal budget today is in deep deficit, and why the long-term outlook is even more daunting. Medicare's incentives for rising volume, unlimited federal funding for state-run Medicaid plans, and a tax subsidy for employer plans that grows with the expense of the plan all point in the same direction: rapidly rising health care costs.