Senate Bill 973, legislation to permit the state to opt out of the national healthcare system, or “Obama-care,” passed the Senate Health Policy committee this week. The measure is sponsored by Senator Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion) and also allows Michigan to join an interstate health care compact. Senate Resolution (SR) 120, supporting the compact, accompanied the bill.
The measure was reportedly intended to soften the views of Tea Party activists that were highly critical of the Committee’s action last year in providing the authority for a not-for-profit to establish a health care exchange for consumers’ use in purchasing health care insurance, a major component of the Affordable Care Act.
The proposed legislation, which suspends the operation of all federal laws and regulations regarding health care that were “inconsistent with the laws and regulations” of a state, is intended to provide another option for consideration in the discussion of national health care, according to the panel’s Chair.