California creates health benefit exchange, unveils website

[SoCalDem]

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/09/27/daily82.html

Friday, October 1, 2010, 2:29pm PDT

Sacramento Business Journal - by Kathy Robertson Staff writer

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Thursday that makes California the first state in the nation to create a health benefit exchange. He also unveiled a new state website to help Californians understand changes under federal health care reform. The California Health Benefit Exchange, intended to help consumers and small businesses shop for and buy health insurance at competitive rates, will start in 2014. The two bills signed by Schwarzenegger that authorize the program are Assembly Bill 1602 by Assembly Speaker John Perez, a Democrat from Los Angeles, and Senate Bill 900 by Sen. Elaine Alquist, a Democrat from Santa Clara.

“Today we are celebrating a package of legislation that moves California one giant step closer toward quality, affordable health care for all,” the governor said at a press conference Friday. Schwarzenegger also touted the new website: Healthcare.ca.gov, as a one-stop shop where Californians can learn about how federal health care reform will be implemented in California.

“Health care reform has long been a priority for my administration, and now that the federal health reform is taking effect, it’s critical that Californians have good information about the changes that are coming. This new web site will help people understand how these changes will affect them.” Reaction by business leaders to approval of the California Health Benefit Exchange was mixed. CalChamber had a terse statement that “these bills ... go far beyond what the law requires and potentially add hundreds of millions in general fund costs,” it reads, citing an analysis by former state finance director Michael Genest.

snip

“This is simply the creation of another unaccountable bureaucracy that has excessive authority,” he said in a news release. “There is no need to rush into a program that still has four years to be established,” Kabateck added. “Now is not the time to increase the size of government — now is the time to come up with a plan that assures efficiency, protects taxpayers and provides proper oversight and accountability to the public.”

snip

The establishment of exchanges will be “of great assistance to California’s 3 million small businesses,” Scott Hauge, president of the group, said in a news release. “It will give us more leverage with insurance carriers and lower administrative costs for the insurance companies. Small businesses can get a better coverage package. It provides needed information for employers and employees to make informed decisions on coverage and price.”

[Taverner]

1. Good. Because the system is a mess

And I knew that Ahnold had some Kennedy in him!

[SoCalDem]

3. It's kind of a shame that when a legislator is on the way out, is the ONLY time

"the people" get any real consideration.. He's sat on his hands for most of his two terms..

I guess Maria "spoke" to him:)

[Taverner]

4. Any way it gets better - I don't care

let it be

[SoCalDem]

5. I think this "plan" was ready-made & set to be a model

so I'm glad we were first:)

I just hope it helps people

[alsame]

2. 'No need to rush' - really? Tell that to an uninsured person who

may not survive another 4 years without healthcare.

[tularetom]

6. What - did Enron quit paying him off?

Now that he's the lamest of ducks, he finally remembers who it is he actually works for?

He's done a lot of good stuff lately. Which makes me wonder why he couldn't have been doing it all along.