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House OKs State Health Plan: Bill Would Cover 245,000 Uninsured

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 February 2006, 09:01 CST

By Tom Searls, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.

Feb. 28--House of Delegates members passed legislation Monday that supporters hope will put the state on the path of health coverage for everyone in the future. "We think we've begun the process that will allow us to move toward universal health care," said House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne. Senators rejected an earlier House bill (HB4201) that would have required universal health care by 2010. House leaders sent the bill back to Perdue's committee, which held 16 meetings over three weeks before coming up with its latest proposal. The new House bill does away with a proposed 15-member expert panel to oversee health care in the state and to establish plans to create universal health care for the state's estimated 245,000 uninsured residents. It allows the state Health Care Authority and the Insurance Commission to oversee the process. It also includes increasing the eligibility for the state's Children's Health Insurance Program for families with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Currently, the state covers up to almost 200 percent. "That's the biggest thing for me," Perdue said of the child health-care provisions. The changes to the bill passed the House on a 69-28 vote, then the bill itself passed by an 86-11 vote. It now goes back to the Senate for consideration, where Perdue said the "initial indication is that they will concur." But Senate Health and Human Resources Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, made no promises Monday, saying he wasn't certain what the House had done. He promised to find out quickly. "As soon as they finish with it, I'm going to get with Chairman Perdue, and find out what's in it," he said. The House bill also contains Gov. Joe Manchin's two original health-care proposals. One would establish pilot health clinics to provide primary health-care services for as little as $30 a month, while the other encourages insurance firms to underwrite bare-bones health insurance policies for as little as $99 a month. Other bills pass Delegates passed a number of bills Monday, trying to get as many House-sponsored bills to the Senate before Wednesday, the last day a chamber can pass its own bills. One bill, which would allow a person to tab another to make their funeral arrangements after death, passed on a close vote. "As a licensed funeral agent I have some grave concerns about this," said Delegate Robert Schadler, R-Mineral. He noted people can already purchase pre-need funerals, making all their arrangements for themselves. The bill (HB4658) also allows the person designated access to the deceased person's money, he warned, with "no guidelines, no safeguards." Despite his concerns, the bill passed on a 53-44 vote. House committees frantically worked throughout the day, with the Judiciary Committee making changes in the requirements for a permanent director of the state's Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. At Manchin's request, lawmakers took out a provision making the director have five years of underground coal mining experience in order for the governor to hire a West Virginia University professor as temporary director. Two Judiciary Committee members from counties where two of the state's recent mine disasters have occurred successfully amended the legislation (HB4596). Delegate Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, changed it from Manchin's proposal of two years of underground mining experience to three years. That was followed by Delegate Lidella Hrutkay, D-Logan, amending the bill to make the temporary director only eligible to hold the post for up to one year. Without opposition, delegates also passed: -- Legislation (HB2638) that would allow the city of Charleston and its firefighters and police officers to contribute an additional 1 percent to their pension fund. The bill is slightly different than the Senate-passed version (SB69) and the two chambers will have to work out their differences. -- Legislation (HB4036) that makes soliciting a person to commit murder a felony. -- A bill (HB4453) allowing conservation officers to obtain and execute search warrants. -- Legislation (HB4456) loosening restrictions on beaver trapping, though making sure it can still only be done in season. -- A bill (HB4536) that would reign in land-line telephone firms. The bill would stop long-term rollover contracts, limiting them to month-to-month. -- Legislation (HB4683) assuring juveniles can have a trial by jury when facing felony charges. -- A bill (HB4612) moving the state's Women's Commission from the Department of Health and Human Resources to the governor's office. To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5192.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Charleston Gazette, W.Va.

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Source: The Charleston Gazette

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