Last year, the Independent Women’s Forum, a non-partisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., issued a call to action to elected officials to “help alleviate the unease in the current healthcare system and prevent a further increase in the number of Americans without health insurance.” Though some time has passed since the report was issued, both unease with health care costs and the number of uninsured (over 47 million Americans) have continued to increase. With health care being a top concern for many voters in the upcoming election, these proposed solutions remain relevant and deserve serious consideration.
The Independent Women’s Forum calls for the following 5 reforms:
• Reform the tax treatment of health insurance: Today’s tax code provides unlimited tax breaks for those who obtain coverage from the workplace but does not extend any comparable tax benefit to those who purchase coverage on their own. The way to solve this problem is through a refundable tax credit to individuals who purchase coverage on their own.
• Expand coverage options: Individuals should have the freedom to decide the state and regulatory structure under which they purchase their health coverage.
• Improve consumer-directed models: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and other affordable alternative health insurance products should be available.
• Allow for greater employee-employer flexibility: Employers would have the option of moving from a defined-benefit system, where the employer sponsors a health plan, to a defined-contribution system, where the employer chooses to contribute to a worker’s own health plan.
• Reform healthcare entitlement programs: There is no doubt that current entitlement programs threaten to bankrupt our country. Policymakers can start by beginning to transform these entitlements, in this case, Medicare and Medicaid, from defined-benefit to defined-contribution programs along the lines found in the employer based pension system.
You can view the entire report here .
My questions for all of you are: Do you agree with these reforms? Will they address the problems of healthcare cost and coverage? What other reforms would you suggest?
Posted by April Green
June 30th, 2008
Every year, thousands of pieces of legislation come before the Illinois General Assembly. It is no easy task to sift through all the bills and determine which might impact your family. That’s why I have identified three bills from this legislative session that every Illinois mom should know about: SB 2091, SB 1900 and HB 2769.
All three bills await a final vote before they can be sent to the governor for his signature. Hopefully, legislators will have the opportunity to cast their votes for these pieces of legislation when they return to Springfield for the fall veto session.
#1. Protecting Children from Teacher Misconduct
According to an investigation conducted by the Small Newspaper Group last January, Illinois is ranked 49th in suspending and revoking teacher’s certificates for misconduct. DCFS has received 3,871 credible complaints on this issue but not one resulted in a suspension or revocation of a teaching certificate.
Senate Bill 2091 strengthens the state’s procedures for suspending and revoking teaching certificates when an educator has grossly failed to perform their duties or has committed a crime that places students in jeopardy. The State Teacher Certification Board will become the final decision-maker on suspensions and revocations of teaching certificates. The bill also requires the State’s Attorney to notify the State Superintendent of Schools if there is reasonable cause to believe an educator has committed an act of abuse or neglect.
#2. Insurance Coverage for Children with Autism
Senate Bill 1900, would require Illinois health insurance companies to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorder. Currently, insurance providers are not required to provide the important coverage. This legislation requires insurers to provide extended autism coverage for children up to age 21, with a maximum of $36,000 per year. Insurance coverage would include the following care: psychiatric, psychological, therapeutic, pharmacy, and other treatments and programs related to autism.
The bill does not limit the amount of visits to an autism care provider. Insurers would also be required to consider autism the same as any other physical illness, charging the same co-payments or deductibles.
#3. Sex Offender Registration Reform
House Bill 2769 makes changes under the Sex Offender Registration Act to be in compliance with the Federal Adam Walsh Act. It enhances the current registration system by providing a 3-tiered registration system that would require sex offenders (defined as sexually dangerous persons, sexually violent persons, or sexual predators) convicted of certain enumerated crimes to register for life. Other less serious crimes could result in a 15-year or 10-year, registration period.
Post your opinions on these bills or contact your state legislator and let them know what you think. Find your legislator.
June 9th, 2008