Insurance Committee Democrats repeat requests for data on health care state overhaul in formal letter to policy analysis office

AUGUSTA –  Rep. Sharon Treat of Hallowell has sent a formal request for information and analysis on the Republican proposal to repeal significant portions of Maine’s health care protections from the state’s non-partisan policy analysis office ahead of a rushed floor vote on the repeals planned for Thursday.  Treat detailed in a May 2 letter (enclosed) the requests made Friday, April 29 at the only work session on the bill, LD 1333, “An Act To Modify Rating Practices for Individual and Small Group Health Plans and To Encourage Value-based Purchasing of Health Care Services.”

“The public should know and lawmakers should be aware of the impact of this major proposal to upend our health insurance protections before we are forced to vote on it,” said Rep. Treat, who is the lead House Democrat on the committee and submitted the questions on behalf of the minority members of the committee. “It would be irresponsible to vote on this measure without having all the information.”

Republican leaders are planning a vote for the measure on the House floor as early as this Thursday, although facts about the bill’s impact on health care costs and access haven’t been determined, committee questions are still unanswered, and a committee vote was rushed through late last week. Republicans on the Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted to advance significant repeals of Maine’s health care protections Friday during a work session on the bill, after introducing a 29-page amendment that had no public hearing.

Republicans refused to table the bill to allow legislators more time to further understand its provisions and get data from the Bureau of Insurance detailing how the changes affect health insurance cost and access for Mainers. Democratic committee members repeatedly asked for additional information, clarification, input from the superintendent of insurance, and an opportunity to read the amendments. Republicans forced a vote on the bill and it passed along party lines.

“It is hard to understand why Republicans are recklessly rushing a vote without disclosing the details to Maine people,” said Sen. Joseph Brannigan of Portland, who serves as the lead Senate Democrat on the committee.
Components of the amendment include: repealing the guaranteed issue, which would allow denial of coverage to people with a pre-existing condition; broadening community rating bands, so that rates can vary wildly depending on where patients live, their occupation, smoking status, and age; allowing for purchases of insurance across state lines without ensuring that consumer protections are in place first; eliminating the state health plan; and creating a high risk pool.