Senate Amends, Passes Blues Reform

Senate Bills 1293 and 1294, introduced by Senate Insurance Committee Chair Joe Hune (R-Hamburg), passed the Senate Wednesday during the upper chamber’s only scheduled session day before the November election.

After years of urging by the Blues to revamp the regulations set forth in Public Act 350 of 1980, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced his dramatic proposal to alter the state’s health insurance market in early September.

The legislation proposes to change the Blues into a nonprofit mutual insurance company and treat it largely like any other insurer in the market. The company would lose its tax exempt status, PA 350 would be repealed, and no longer have involvement from the Attorney General in rate increase requests. Further, the proposal calls for the Blues to pay $1.5 billion over 18 years into an independent nonprofit working towards the overall improvement of the state’s health.

The measures passed on votes of 33 – 4 with Senators Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale), Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton), Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) and Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township) voting no.

Many changes were made at both the committee level and on the Senate floor, including an amendment regarding the somewhat controversial issue of requiring an independent valuation of the Blues. Senator Hune won an amendment requiring the valuation only in the instance of Blue Cross changing ownership – an action prohibited in the legislation.

The two bills now move to the House of Representatives where action, while expected during the lame duck session, may not be as swift.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, October 19, 2012 11:04 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Specialized Court Bills Signed

Three bills signed into law by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder this week provide some Michigan courts with the ability to set up specialized courts to handle business and veterans issues.

Public Act 333 of 2012 (House Bill 5128) would allow every circuit court with three or more judges to provide for a judge to oversee business cases with disputed amounts of $25,000 or more.

Public Acts 334 and 335 of 2012 (House Bills 5159 and 5162) provides the ability for veterans who have returned home with alcohol or drug dependency issues or mental illness to be treated through specialized veterans treatment courts in both district and circuit court settings.

All three bills passed with immediate effect.

posted by PAA Online , 11:04 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Competitive Congressional Races Close in Funding

Despite the political leanings of the 11^th Congressional District, GOP nominee Kerry Bentivolio is trailing the Democratic nominee in money raised and cash-on-hand heading into the final weeks of the campaign. Syed Taj raised just shy of $450,000 with over $150,000 still in the bank.

Mr. Bentivolio raised just more than half of what the Democratic nominee did, with roughly $230,000 total raised, more than $150,000 of which has come in the last quarter and more than $130,000 of which was loaned to the campaign by the candidate. Bentivolio has a bit more than $100,000 in cash-on-hand for the final push.

In the competitive 3^rd Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Representative Justin Amash (R-Kentwood) has raised only a bit more than Democratic challenger Steve Pestka; however, has a huge advantage in cash-on-hand heading into the last two weeks. Congressman Amash has raised $1.13 million with nearly $500,000 in still in the bank. Mr. Pestka raised $360,000; and, loaned himself over $1 million. He has only $162,000 on-hand at the time of filing.

posted by PAA Online , 11:02 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAAdvisory Briefs

September Revenue Analysis

The Senate Fiscal Agency reported that tax revenue for September 2012 was down 3.5 percent from last year’s total in the same month, with $2.1 billion. Year-to-date numbers for the General Fund are $115.4 million higher than those numbers estimated at the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

LARA Bureau of Health Care Services Created

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has combined the Bureau of Health Systems and the Bureau of Health Professions into the Bureau of Health Care Services according to an announcement made Thursday. There is no anticipated reduction in workforce and a director has not yet been named.

Report States NITC Contains No State Costs

The nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency released an analysis this week showing that Michigan would pay nothing under the terms of the Crossing Agreement signed in June between the State and the Canadian government to build a new bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. The analysis is reportedly the first not funded by organizations either supporting or opposing Proposal 6 to require a statewide vote for new international border crossings.

September Unemployment Rate Drops

After five months of increases, the state’s jobless rate dropped 0.1 percent in September, from 9.4 percent to 9.3 percent. Both the total number of working people (4.23 million) and the total labor force (4.66 million) increased in September.

posted by PAA Online , 10:54 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Question of the Week 10/19/2012

posted by PAA Online , 10:30 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters