SB 921: A Michigan Health Care Insurance Mandate Review Board ?

Senator Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) just introduced SB 921 to establish a Health Care Insurance Mandate Review Commission:

https://www.misenategop.com/webber-looks-to-create-review-board-to-keep-health-care-affordable-as-lawmakers-consider-future-coverage-mandates/

https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2024-SIB-0921.htm

Webber Looks To Create Review Board To Keep Health Care Affordable As Lawmakers Consider Future Coverage Mandates
Press Release - July 8, 2024

LANSING, Mich. — Senate Committee on Health Policy Minority Vice Chair Michael Webber has introduced legislation to establish a review commission to study the impact of proposed state mandates on health care insurers that exceed the essential health benefits required under the Affordable Care Act to ensure health care remains affordable in Michigan.

“While the state Legislature debates important legislation that could cover benefits going beyond the federal scope, we have a duty to balance those discussions with an eye toward cost and keeping health care obtainable for Michiganders in need,” said Webber, Rochester Hills.

“Health insurance providers face continuous pressure to reduce health care premiums. More consideration of the impacts of current and future proposed coverage mandates is necessary to ensure health insurance remains affordable for Michiganders.”

Webber said Senate Bill 921 would create a Mandate Review Commission within the Legislative Council to review:

• The social and financial impacts of mandating a proposed health benefit.
• The medical efficacy of mandating a health insurance benefit, including recommendations from clinical studies or major peer-reviewed medical journals.
• The effects of balancing the social, economic and medical efficacy considerations, including the extent to which the need for coverage outweighs the costs of mandating a health insurance benefit.

“Health insurance premiums are a direct reflection of the costs of providers, facilities, and drugs, and a Mandate Review Commission would provide needed oversight to reduce unnecessary costs to employers and individuals,” Webber said.

The Mandate Review Commission would also be responsible for conducting evaluations of existing health insurance mandates.

Under Webber’s proposal, the review board would include the directors of the Department of Insurance and Financial Services and Department of Health and Human Services, along with one sitting legislator appointed by each quadrant leader in the House and Senate and industry representatives appointed by the Legislative Council.

It should be noted that Sen. Webber voted with the Democrats a number of times last year to impose many of these mandates, which he now questions.