RS12 HB 202 - KEY VOTE - A Health Care Mandate Without Precedent
HB 202 is a ridiculous health care mandate without precedent.
It would seek higher reimbursement rates for chiropractors by tying chiropractor reimbursement rates to the workers comp schedule., Not only will this raise health care costs for all Kentuckians, no other reimbursement rate is set in such a ridiculous way. While some reimbursements are tied to Medicaid or Medicare, none are tied into the Worker's Compensation System.
Who came up with such a novel approach to create a windfall for chiropractors at the expense of Kentucky insurance ratepayers? We certainly don't know. But here's a coincidence: the chiropractors' main lobbyist is Donna Brown:
Donna Brown just happens to be the wife of Mark Brown, the Secretary of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet.
If this bill is approved, Mr. Brown will be in charge of the agency setting these reimbursement rates in a way that is uniquely beneficial to Donna Brown's clients.
It's a sweet deal for chiropractors, but it's a rate hike for the ratepayers in Kentucky. Independent actuarial analysis of this bill estimates that this health care mandate could raise health care costs for insured Kentuckians by more than $43 million each year. That's almost $100 per insured individual.
Horrible idea driven by a frightening conflict of interest, right?
HB 202 has already passed the House 77-15. In the Senate, the bill's lobbyists have apparently succeeded at venue shopping.
First the bill was assigned to Senate A&R, conveniently chaired by chiropractor Bob Leeper. This conflict of interest proved too blatant, so the bill was reassigned to Senate Licensing and Occupations, chaired by Sen. John Schickel, a taxpayer champion. Mr. Schickel's committee was apparently inadequate, however, and the bill has now been reassigned to Banking and Insurance.
HB 202 is a health care mandate we don't need and a KEY VOTE.
Don't let this bill slip by because of special interest maneuvering. Call your legislator today at 1-800-372-7181 to oppose this mandate.
