Health Benefit Exchange Authority; created, report. (SB615)

Introduced By

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) with support from co-patron Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Virginia Health Benefits Exchange.  Creates the Virginia Health Benefits Exchange Authority as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, as recommended by the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council. The Authority is charged with establishing and operating health benefit exchanges for qualified individuals and for small businesses, collectively referred to as the Exchange. The measure also provides for the Authority to perform, or provide for the performance by other state agencies of, duties associated with the operation of the Exchange as required by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and implements the intent set forth in Chapter 823 of the Acts of Assembly of 2011 that Virginia create and operate its own health benefits exchange to preserve and enhance competition in the health insurance market. The Authority is authorized to enter agreements with the State Corporation Commission and Departments of Medical Assistance Services, Health, and Social Services regarding the performance of duties related to the conduct of the Exchange. The Exchange will be funded by assessment fees on all health carriers offering plans in the Exchange. The measure provides that mandated health benefits applicable to plans offered outside the Exchange will also apply to plans offered through the Exchange. Read the Bill »

Status

02/13/2012: Failed to Pass in Committee

History

DateAction
01/20/2012Presented and ordered printed 12103373D
01/20/2012Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
01/24/2012Assigned C&L sub: Health Insurance
01/31/2012Impact statement from DPB (SB615)
02/13/2012Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (12-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: HB402.

Comments

Julie Blust writes:

Virginia Organizing strongly supports creating a consumer-friendly Health Benefits Exchange.

Laura Dely writes:

We should all support the creation of the Virginia Healthcare Exchange system. It will pay for itself while creating more choices at a better price for consumers.
Health Insurance companies, never the friend of consumers, always the devotee of profit, would rather not see these exchanges come into being.
We consumers should stand together and demand decent healthcare at an affordable price, that is easy to compare the different company offererings, and an ombudsman to advocate for us when we run into problems. These are all the basic outlines of what the Exchanges will provide, according to the Affordable Healthcare Act.
I say no thanks to the same old lousy, costly, profit-driven healthcare that can end as soon as you are diagnosed with something serious.
We'd be foolish to settle for that old system.