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Senate Approves Manchin Health Care Measures; House Proposals Not Considered During Debate

Posted on: Thursday, 2 February 2006, 00:00 CST

By JENNIFER BUNDY

The state Senate moved to expand health care for the uninsured but rejected the House's plan to push the state toward universal health care.

Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin said the House and Senate have such differing philosophies about helping uninsured West Virginians that it makes sense to get the issue to a conference committee as soon as possible to work out the differences.

The Senate did not even consider the House's proposal when debating Gov. Joe Manchin's health care proposals Monday.

"The subject matter is very critical to the state of West Virginia," said Tomblin, D-Logan. "I'm not sure we are ready for universal health care or can afford it."

If the House plan emerges from the conference committee, it will be in a "watered-down" form, Tomblin said.

Senators passed bills Monday that would help people who work but do not have health insurance and workers and retirees who recently lost health insurance because their employer no longer offers it.

Manchin's Preventive Care Clinic-Based Pilot Program would authorize the Health Care Authority and state insurance commissioner to establish a pilot project that provides basic health care services for a monthly fee through a handful of clinics and physician offices.

The governor's Affordable Health Insurance Act would allow insurance companies to offer simple insurance plans that focus on preventive coverage.

The House bill also contains those measures and Manchin's proposed West Virginia Health Information Network. This public- private effort would create an electronic system that would allow medical records to follow patients wherever they go in the state.

Delegates also proposed to create a 16-member Commission on Health Care Reform to oversee new measures sought by Manchin.

An estimated 300,000 West Virginians, or nearly 17 percent of the state's population, lack health insurance. Only eight states have a higher percentage of their adults aged 19 to 64 without coverage, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

House Speaker Bob Kiss said he was surprised by the Senate's decision to speed to a conference committee.

"Just last week, they were talking about how they deliberate," said Kiss, D-Raleigh.

Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said the group supports Manchin's bills but also supports the House's plan.

"We really need a mechanism to get to universal health care and see if we can't hold down costs and improve the quality of the health care system," Bryant said.

A spokeswoman for Manchin said the administration is monitoring the legislative process and is not ready to take a stand for or against the House proposals.

"Our overall concern is that the proposals the governor put forth remain intact," said Lara Ramsburg.

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

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