Michigan Democrats are nervous about those 81 million 2020 votes! 🤣
They plan to incorporate Obamacare into the MCL, just in case it gets repealed at the Federal level:
Michigan Democrats aim to enshrine the Affordable Care Act into state law
By Taylor Bowie | June 14, 2023Michigan Democrats have introduced a package of bills that would enshrine the Affordable Care Act into law. HB 4619-23 and SB 356-58 would maintain protections and coverage requirements from the ACA in Michigan, if the federal law was ever changed. If passed, the bills wouldn't make any changes to current health care systems in Michigan, but would maintain ACA principles if Congress changed the law, or if it was repealed in court.
Representative Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) sponsored one of the bills.
“What this is doing is keeping those protections in place. The intent of this bill package is not to go above and beyond the federal requirements, so it is just merely codifying into Michigan law the federal provisions that we already have in place. Nothing more, nothing less,” she said.
Committees began discussing the package last week.
Representative Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) also introduced one of the House bills.
He said codifying the ACA would protect health care access in Michigan by maintaining essential requirements, such as preventive, maternal, and prenatal health care.
“So many Michiganders are affected by, and rely on (these measures) every single day, and we want to make sure that’s protected,” Koleszar said.
Both Koleszar and Rogers expect there will be some bipartisan support.
“I do believe we're going to get some bipartisan support. My bill in particular did have a Republican co-sponsor. And I do believe there are others in the Republican caucus that would like to support these measures because health care is not partisan in terms of who needs it,” Koleszar said.
Rogers said she hopes the bills will be voted on in the next few weeks.
This is really about mandated coverage for HIV PrEP, isn't it?
The conscience-rights case being tried in federal court as we speak.
https://mihealthfreedom.org/community/postid/109/
Action items in this week's blog post.
https://mihealthfreedom.org/schizophrenic-state-mental-health-policy/
Civic Action tools here: https://mihealthfreedom.org/community/postid/4/
Major speech from Gov. Whitmer expected on Wednesday to outline her legislative priorities, assuming Democrats maintain control over the State House. At the top of the list: codifying the Affordable Care Act into State law:
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to call on Democrats to codify 'Obamacare' into state law
By Associated Press - August 28, 2023Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will call on state lawmakers this week to pass legislation proactively protecting key provisions in the Affordable Care Act, including no-cost preventive services, as the nation's health law continues to face legal challenges in federal court.
Whitmer, who is in her second term and working for the first time with a Legislature under complete Democratic control, will call for a plan to codify the Affordable Care Act during a speech Wednesday where she will outline her legislative priorities for the second half of the year.
It comes as one of the Affordable Care Act's most popular provisions that requires insurers to cover preventive services faces a threat in federal court.
Writing the Affordable Care Act into state law will ensure Michigan residents "aren't at risk of losing coverage," due to future threats, Whitmer said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
The plan, according to the governor's office, must include measures that prohibit insurers from denying or limiting coverage based on preexisting conditions and would further protect a range of no-cost preventive services. Whitmer also wants legislation that requires all insurers to cover a set of "essential" services, such as ambulance services, birth control, maternity care and mental health.
The nation's health law, often referred to as "Obamacare," has faced numerous legal challenges in its 13-year history, including several that have made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Earlier this year, a federal judge in Texas struck down an Affordable Care Act provision that requires most insurers to cover preventive services that include screenings for cancer, diabetes and mental health. It's among the most popular features of the law, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimating 150 million individuals in private health plans have benefited from the no-cost preventive services.
While a court agreement put a stay on the judge's ruling as appeals are pursued, Whitmer directed state departments and the state Legislature in April to take action to ensure residents were not stripped of protections if federal law was changed.
"These are life saving measures that are protected by the ACA. So as long as Democrats have these majorities, it is important that we can protect these services in perpetuity," said Dr. Rob Davidson, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care.
A version of the Whitmer's proposal was passed by the state House in June but was never introduced in the Senate. It included a ban on annual or lifetime benefit limits and would protect a provision that requires insurers to allow young adults to stay on a parent's plan until they turned 26.
A number of states added similar protections several years ago as the ACA faced a federal lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality. But self-funded plans established by private employers are exempt from most state insurance laws, stunting the impact of any state measures, according to Krutika Amin, the associate director of the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation 's Program on the ACA.
"State-based approaches make it so that some people in the state continue getting valuable services, such as zero-cost preventive services, but it won't apply to the most people with private insurance," Amin said.
Delivered as promised, along with her campaign trademark (swearing) and obligatory promises of more abortion.
I've excerpted the Detroit Free Press to focus on the segment about healthcare freedom. Pardon me - that's the segment assaulting healthcare freedom.
The governor called on lawmakers to codify protections in the Affordable Care Act in the event legal challenges thwart the federal health care law. Whitmer called for adding to state law protections for preexisting conditions, allowing young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plan, banning annual or lifetime caps and requiring insurance plans to cover essential services. Whitmer additionally said she hopes to establish an independent prescription drug affordability board to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
No one knows how many boards and commissions we have in Michigan, so we probably need another one, right?
As for entrenching Obamacare, it's been 10 years since rollout so here's a quick review: Insurance mandates are a gift to industry. In a win-win for the governor's dual base, they drive up premium prices and make more people dependent on state Medicaid.
The Freep's photographers captured the bling and drama as the state's power players turned out for the event.
Well worth the read.
Done:
Gov. Whitmer signs legislation cementing Affordable Care Act into Michigan state law
by Samantha May | October 19, 2023
...LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday, codifying the Affordable Care Act into state law.
Writing the Affordable Care Act into state law will ensure Michigan residents “aren’t at risk of losing coverage,” due to future threats, Whitmer said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
“The ACA includes critical provisions that protect people with pre-existing conditions from being charged more, allows kids to stay on their parent’s insurance until they turn 26, and guarantees essential services in all health insurance plans. Today, I am proud to sign bipartisan bills putting the cost-saving provisions of the ACA into Michigan state law and protect health care for millions of Michiganders," Whitmer said.
The package of legislation includes prohibiting insurers from denying coverage bases on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation or expression, as well as prohibiting insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, among other things.
Breakdown of the Legislation:
House Bill 4619, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers (D – Kalamazoo), prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation or expression.
House Bill 4620, sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe), prohibits insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions.
House Bill 4621, sponsored by Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), requires insurance coverage for dependents under age 26.
House Bill 4622, sponsored by Rep. Reggie Miller (D – Belleville), prohibits insurers from instituting annual and lifetime dollar limits.
House Bill 4623, sponsored by Rep. Matt Koleszar (D – Plymouth), requires insurers to provide coverage for specified services such as hospitalization, pregnancy, and emergency services.
Senate Bill 356, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D – St. Clair Shores), require insurers to provide a summary of a health insurance policy and coverage to consumers.
Senate Bill 357, sponsored by Sen. Mary Cavanaugh (D – Redford Twp.), prohibits insurers from rescinding coverage.
Senate Bill 358, sponsored by Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D – Eastpointe), requires the level of coverage insurers must provide in the state, including coverage equal to a certain percentage of the full actuarial value of benefits under a health insurance policy.
Sponsors
Friends of MHF
Kirsten DeVries
Tom & Karen Nunheimer
Steve Ahonen
Ron & Faith Bosserman
Marlin & Kathy Klumpp
Sign Up for MHF Insights to keep up on the latest in Michigan Health Policy
