This report originally appeared in the March 2010 issue of DOTmed Business News

As the work on national health care reform legislation continues, various states have set out to pass measures to either enact health care reform principles similar to national proposals, or prevent such measures. One bill that appears to be a first for a state is a Maine measure, LD 1620 - to protect consumers from catastrophic debt - and would prohibit health plans covering Maine residents from including provisions that terminate payment of further claims after a defined annual limit, lifetime limit or other basis of limitation.

Several other state legislatures are considering bills and state constitutional amendments to prohibit compelling an individual to participate in health care system or be forced to buy health care insurance. The recent bills include HJR 35 in Alaska, SB 283 in Virginia, LR 289CA in Nebraska, HB 307 in Kentucky and SJR 14 in Indiana. As example, the proposed Indiana constitutional amendment states, "A person, an employer, or a health care provider shall not be compelled, directly or indirectly, to participate in any health care system."

Other bills expand coverage of health care. Missouri has HB 1480 and SB 722 both propose state universal health services for state residents. California's SB 810 would establish a state health care single-payer system under which all residents would be eligible for health care benefits. Vermont's HB 510 offers health care coverage for all Vermont residents, and HB 491 would create a single payer health care system in Vermont. South Carolina's SB 986 would allow the department of insurance to offer health insurance policies from out-of-state insurers.

More Industry Headlines