A new Senate bill would establish a board responsible for reviewing coverage requirements that the Legislature thinks about placing on health insurance companies.
The commission would be responsible for looking at upcoming state coverage mandates outside of federal rules and deciding if they were necessary. Additional coverage requirements might drive up the cost of insurance and make health care more expensive generally, according to bill sponsor Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills).
“Health insurance providers face continuous pressure to reduce health care premiums,” Webber said in a release. “More consideration of the impacts of current and future proposed coverage mandates is necessary to ensure health insurance remains affordable for Michiganders.”
Last year, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation codifying the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into state law. Under these new laws, insurance providers are prohibited from denying someone coverage based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, denying coverage based on preexisting conditions and from rescinding someone’s coverage.
The Democratic-led Legislature is also considering bills that would establish a state-run health exchange.
SB 921 would give the Legislature non-binding guidance on health care policy issues. The board will examine financial impacts of legislation, the medical efficacy of a bill and the necessity of the coverage to be required under state law.
The commission would include Michigan lawmakers, representatives from the health care and insurance industries and the director of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The bill was referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee. Webber is the minority vice chair of the board.
