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Top StoryCrist’s health plan and compromise CON win in Senate By Christine Jordan Sexton TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved the "Cover Florida" program, Gov. Charlie Crist's top legislative priority, after groups representing business interests gave it a push. The Senate also passed a modified version of the governor's certificate of need bill, which would make the process of getting state permission to build a hospital quicker and less costly.
State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty hailed the vote for Cover Florida and called on the House "to act swiftly and pass this responsible legislation" when it comes up on Thursday. The House bill has combined the Crist plan with an alternative sponsored by Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach. The Bean bill came under fire from state insurance regulators as unfriendly to consumers. Crist told reporters on Tuesday that “things are starting to break open’’ in his conversations with House Republicans. One reason may be the support for Crist’s plan from groups that represent Florida businesses. Officials from Associated Industries of Florida stood by Crist on Tuesday and urged the Legislature to pass Cover Florida.
“We thank Governor Crist for taking a bold step to increase the options employers have to provide health insurance benefits to their employees,’’ said Jose Gonzalez, vice president of governmental affairs for the group. “Health benefits play a major role in an employer’s efforts to attract and keep quality employees.’’
Floridians would be able to purchase health insurance for as little as $150 a month under the Cover Florida plan, which would allow the state to solicit bids from health insurance companies to offer stripped-down health insurance to those adults who aren’t covered by private insurance or government-funded programs. While Cover Florida plans would not have to include all 50 or so of the medical services required under Florida law -- the so-called "mandates" -- they would still have to cover many of the basics. The Bean plan would have no such requirement, and the insurance department says it would be difficult to protect consumers under his plan.
The CON bill that passed was a compromise between the governor's office, which had wanted to abolish CON altogether, and the hospital industry. SB 2326 would require hospitals that challenge an agency decision granting a competitor’s CON to pay the attorney’s fees if it loses. The fees would be capped at $1 million. As of Wednesday afternoon, there was no companion bill in the House. “We don’t know yet what the House has planned,” said Rich Rasmussen of the Florida Hospital Association. The FHA would like to see the compromise bill passed, he said, "so we can put more time and energy into other issues, like the uninsured.”
--The House discussed extendomg the law that allows so-called “Health Flex plans,’’ which are now scheduled to sunset in 2008. This was an effort launched in 2002 to allow groups to offer stripped-down health insurance, but the pilot program has been largely unsuccessful. --The House also discussed a bill that would require health insurance carriers to pay for the same level of benefits for a handful of mental illnesses that they do for physical illnesses. The sponsor, Rep. Ed Homan, R-Tampa, complained Monday that the legislation was now an “insurance industry’’ bill since it would apply to only six disorders, including schizophrenia and major depressive disorders.
But Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, said a “baby step’’ in coverage of mental disorders was better than nothing at all. The bill says insurance carriers do not have to provide coverage if it would increase costs by more than two percent; insurers don’t think that will happen since the six illnesses can be treated with prescription drugs.
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