Posted on 02/24/2005 4:59:24 PM PST by Nachum
At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23, on the South Steps of the California State Capitol, State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-23) announced her introduction of SB 840 the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA) to the California Legislature. Senate Pro Tempore Don Perata has joined as a co-author as have Senator Deborah Ortiz, chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, chair of the Assembly Health Committee who are both principle co-authors. The bill will cover every Californian with comprehensive health insurance and guarantee their right to choose their own physician, while containing healthcare cost inflation. By slashing the administrative costs of health insurance and utilizing California’s purchasing power to buy prescription drugs and medical equipment in bulk, CHIRA will save an estimated $25 billion, in the first year alone, in statewide healthcare spending. Senator Kuehl was joined by principle co-authors, Senator Deborah Ortiz, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and Assemblymember Wilma Chan, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee.
CHIRA is based on a model put forward, in a study released this January, by the Lewin Group, an independent firm with 18 years of experience in healthcare cost analysis. Senator Kuehl, along with State Senate President Pro Tempore, Don Perata, helped to present the report, on January 19, at which time Senator Kuehl pledged to bring legislation based on its findings.
According to the Lewin model, it is possible to insure all state residents with full coverage that includes medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and prescription drug benefits, and that is based on a high standard for quality, by streamlining the process of reimbursement. Means-based premiums, assessed according to income and payroll, would replace all premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out of pocket expenses. The vast majority of individuals, families and businesses that pay for insurance would save money while receiving better coverage. “Everybody knows that healthcare costs are out of control. The system is broken and tinkering won’t fix it,” said Senator Kuehl. “We’re beyond the point of cosmetic surgery. What we need is a cure.”
“Half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are related to medical expenses,” the Senator continued, “and most of the people bankrupted have insurance when they get sick. Californians just can’t rely on their insurance when they get sick or injured. There are too many holes and deductibles in the plans they buy, and if they lose their job, they lose their benefits.”
A new report from Boston University concluded that about 50% of health care spending is wasted on unnecessary clinical and administrative costs, insurance company profits, and excessive pharmaceutical prices in the U.S. Spending on health care now consumes about 15.5% of our nation’s projected economic growth (GDP), yet Americans are not receiving superior health care. “We don’t need to spend more”, stated Senator Kuehl, “we need to be much more efficient with the statewide healthcare budget we already have and now we have the evidence to show that we can do it.”
“With more than 6 million uninsured Californians and health insurance premiums growing at double-digit rates, we must find a way to provide all Californians with affordable and safe health care coverage,” said Senate Health Committee Chair Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento. “I believe Sen. Kuehl’s single-payer legislation provides a sound plan for crafting comprehensive healthcare coverage, especially for the uninsured and those who cannot afford spiraling medical and prescription drug costs.”
Said Assemblymember Chan, “Health care premiums continue to rise; the number of working Californians without health insurance continues to grow. We need a health plan that covers all Californians, promotes quality, preserves choice, and costs less. The California Health Insurance Reliability Act does all that.”
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
So who is going to pay for it?!
Idiot! (the Dem who introduced it)
First of all, it won't pass even the Dem Legilature and Arnold would absolutely veto it.
It was beat down once by the voters. Arnold will veto it.
If you want an "exodus", get the f*ck out.
If the people of California can hold this one off then never fear, the federal medicare expansion will take care of them.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Arnold will veto this as a business killer. But don't count on CA having a pubbie guv forever. Remember that Grey Davis was OK with this.
I love it here but the legislature doesn't want the little guy like me around. This state is anti-business, they are digging a hole they will never climb out of. And watch the language, it make you look psycho.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Watching liberals destroy California's economy and culture has become a secret perverse entertainment for me.
We aren't going to fall into the ocean; we're going to jump!
OK, let's just give up.
You're right. Go to heck.
1. What about illegals?
2. What happens when these expected savings don't materialize? Who will pay for this?
3. How will costs be controlled when there is no longer competition?
I have one more question to add to the list. Will this mean the un insurable will finally be able to get insurance coverage? This system may be as bad as predicted here. But for those without insurance and that can not get it due to preexisting condition, bad is better than nothing.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Get a grip, you are starting to look really bad. Miss taking your medication or what ?
They act like people will put up with whatever they throw at us because we love the weather. When the rich start leaving the state it's all over and at this rate it won't be long.
Have a nice day.
(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")
Nevada is real close and no state sales tax, these people are whackos.
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