Schwarzenegger Signs Sweeping Health Reforms

[TomCADem]

Source: Cap Radio

California has become the first state in the nation to approve a state run health exchange program. The exchange is a key component of the federal health care law passed earlier this year.

* * *

Supporters of the health exchange say it allows individuals and small business owners to form a collective, using their combined purchasing power to drive down the cost of insurance.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law, despite intense objection from some of the state's largest insurers.

Anthem Blue Cross in particular lobbied hard against the exchange as it made its way through the legislature.


Read more: http://www.capradio.org/articles/2010/10/01/schwarzenegger-signs-sweeping-health-reforms

[gateley]

1. This sounds great! Good for Schwarzenegger! nt

[pnwmom]

2. I don't understand what specifically Anthem is objecting to.

Or exactly what this new exchange means. Federal law has already authorized exchanges -- do states have some kind of veto power? What if you live in the wrong state? Do the new laws then not apply to you?

[sandnsea]

3. States set up their own exchanges

There are basic standards that they have to meet, but the states can add things like abortion coverage for instance, if they want to. I haven't looked at CA's plan so I don't know what Anthem would be fighting. I know Oregon has been having public hearings on the exchange with Kitzhaber heavily involved in them. There has been talk here of adding a public option to the exchange. I also hope they add some money to the subsidy, otherwise those with a subsidy are going to be paying more after the exchange than we are now.

[pnwmom]

11. And what if your state doesn't set up an exchange?

Can you get insurance through some Federal plan, or are you just out of luck?

[sandnsea]

13. They have to

That's why some states are suing, they don't want to. But I think they have to in order to keep getting Medicaid/Medicare/VA and all the other federal money. I think the only thing a governor can veto would be additional benefits not ordered at the federal level, or not enough benefits even I suppose.

[kirby]

31. They do not have to, HHS takes it over and is responsible for it n/t

[sandnsea]

32. Thanks, forgot that part

That might be better for some states anyway.

[underpants]

23. Competition and about the states jurisdiction thing...

Anthem likes things the way they are. There is competition but in namesake only. There are only a few providers in certain areas and though they may not be technically colluding one inches up prices...the others look around to see if people will pay it....and everyone brings their prices UP to the new level. The proponents of "competition" continue to mouth the words that the natural order of things is for prices to go DOWN with more competition (and less regulation)but the only industry inwhich that is true is the airlines who have priced themselves almost out of business.

Insurance is set and regulated by each state. Blue Cross and Blue Shield ("The Blues" as I have heard it referred to in the insurance industry) have to set plans by state - BCBS of Alabama, BCBS of Utah, etc. What is not discussed in all the talk about healthcare is what would happen IF you really could shop across state lines. This is classic Frank Lutz/REPUB story crafting. They make it sound as if it was just be so great if you could shop between (insert insurance co. name) of (insert name of state) VS. (insert insurance co. name) of (insert name of state) as if it would make a damn bit of difference as the pool of providers is still basically set. What would happen is that one state (see Delaware corporate laws) would become the haven for all the insurance companies OR - most likely - they would set up shop in The Northern Mariannas which is in fact a corporate-run city-state right now.

[nyy1998]

25. Well said! +1

[DesertFlower]

4. good. nt

[Stellar]

5. Cool! K&R

***Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday signed seven major health care bills, including two measures establishing a Web-based insurance exchange that will allow consumers to comparison-shop for coverage.***

So, your link didn't work for me. I hope this was part of the story. Thanks!


http://tinyurl.com/23f6r66

[tomm2thumbs]

6. * another link of info as that one is dead *

http://www.calpirg.org/newsroom/health-care/health-care-news/governor-signs-california-health-exchange-into-law



general budget info:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/01/AR2010100107465.html

[Swagman]

7. is Arnie a closet liberal?

[proteus_lives]

8. I'm starting to think so.

[truthisfreedom]

15. Me too.

[pnwmom]

12. Some of the Kennedys might have an influence on him!

[EFerrari]

24. No, he's not. n/t

[xxqqqzme]

26. No, he's termed out.

We still don't have a budget because he wants (even deeper) cuts in the social safety net but no increases in corporate tax rates - corporations currently provide only 2% of California's revenues.

[Posteritatis]

27. I'd still call him conservative, but he's more complex about it than many. (nt)

[Book Lover]

28. That is hysterically funny

No, the current governor of California does not support the liberal agenda.

The next one will, though (Go Jerry!!)

[Merlot]

30. Not a chance. He doesn't get points for doing the right thing when he's

termed out. He know what Californians want and wants everyone to have good memories of him instead of the last 7 years of mismanagement.

Also, if he vetoed this (and the MJ legalization) he probably would have been overridden.

arnie is a repub through and through and beholden to enron for getting him into the gov. seat.

[diane in sf]

9. Arnie's doing some interesting things on his way out the door, loved his comments

about out of state oil companies trying to wreck our anti-pollution laws.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. On the other hand,

he has a tendency to do idiotic things as well, such as vetoing the Bill that legalized hemp in California. Remember too, that Republicans have to actually lean to the left a slight bit in order to get elected in California. It's been a while but I saw a poll of CA Republican women that reflected overwhelming support for a woman's right to choose.

[Blacksheep214]

10. Hey Oklahoma!

Tell Coburn that this is how compassionate care is done!

Now about Haiti.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fruittree]

19. Why even write something like that?

[JCMach1]

16. Might be worthy of a legacy... certainly one of the best things he ever signed

[coti]

17. Sure, if he hadn't VETOED single payer TWICE. nt

[glitch]

22. Everyone expects single payer to pass again and NOT be vetoed by Brown.

Wonder if this has any little nasties buried in the fine print that will hinder that.

[DailyGrind51]

18. Thank you, Maria!

[judesedit]

20. Woo hoo! A republican who finally came to his senses

I think he's seen enough at this point to know and ADMIT what is right for the people of America. Thank you, Arnold. Now MAYBE some others will follow....instead of only being concerned with THEIR bank accounts, corporations and whether they'll be reelected.

[UrbScotty]

29. Arnold is mopre of a Democrat than Blanche Lincoln or Mary Landrieu!

I mean, he's still conservative on some things, but...

[Cleita]

33. I can't believe people are saying this is a good thing.

Schwarzenegger has vetoed a couple of really good single payer bills that would have covered all Californians with quality health care for less cost and sent the insurance companies packing. This is what we need, not Massachusetts health care, which is the Republican backed bill he has signed into law. There is another single payer bill in the Legislature and Mr. Lame Duck Governor did this to derail it.

:thumbsdown: