Lawmakers will begin work Tuesday on the state's version of health insurance reform as they take up two bills to create the Nebraska Health Benefit Exchange Act.
The bills, which will come before the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, are expected to get plenty of attention in the coming weeks as the Legislature passes its half-way point for the session.
Sen. Rich Pahls of Boys Town and Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha each have introduced a bill that would meet the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act, which calls for states to have an operating exchange by 2014. In the event that a state doesn't have a plan in place, the federal Health and Human Services Department has the authority to create and operate a health benefit exchange.
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Pahls and Nordquist said their proposals are works in progress and will likely evolve over the next few weeks. They acknowledge their bills are similar.
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The Center for Rural Affairs argues that state health insurance exchanges are crucial because many people in rural areas don't have health insurance. Many others must buy health insurance on the individual market, which is usually more expensive than policies that larger employers can offer their workers.
"It is our preference that we build this health network this session," Depew said. "If the state doesn't act, it will be up to the federal decision. I prefer that we build our own."
http://www.theindependent.com/news/state/neb-lawmakers-to-debate-health-insurance-exchange/article_3861a0fe-da61-5c0d-a8dc-f3567b4bd786.html
Hat tip: The Independent
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