Priority Health against IMR legislation

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Nov. 24, 2008) Priority Health is among a diverse group of organizations and elected officials opposing passage of bills in a lame-duck session of the Legislature that would make it harder for people in Michigan to afford health insurance while benefitting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM).

“We encourage no action on flawed individual market reform bills in a lame-duck session before the end of this year,” says Kimberly K. Horn, president & CEO, Priority Health. “Legislation this important warrants careful attention and accountability, not eleventh-hour special-interest lobbying for a vote that will benefit one highly profitable company at the expense of Michigan citizens and businesses.”

BCBSM is applying heavy lobbying pressure and spending in an attempt to convince the Legislature to act quickly and pass controversial individual market bills before the end of the year. According to election filings, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan Political Action Committee (PAC) spent nearly $450,000 in October alone to support the election campaigns of lawmakers who will consider this legislation.

In strong opposition to BCBSM pressure tactics, Priority Health is on the side of a large and growing coalition of organizations and individuals that oppose rushed passage of the BCBSM-favored legislation. Michigan State Attorney General Michael Cox has been a vocal opponent of the bills. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Michigan Association of Health Plans and many others have taken a strong stand and formed a “Put Michigan People First Coalition” to urge citizens to contact their legislators to let them know they oppose ramrodding  health care reform legislation through a lame-duck session and urging them to give the issue careful study and attention in 2009.

Background:
 
October 2007:
A BCBSM supported bill was introduced and passed by the House after a single hearing with limited testimony. The House-passed bills were sent to the Senate.
 
May 2008:
After a series of hearings, the Senate passed a compromise bill. This compromise did not require BCBSM competitors to subsidize BCBSM losses. The Senate-passed bills were sent to the House for concurrence.
 
June 2008: 
The House voted not to concur with the Senate-passed bills and the two versions have been sitting in a conference committee since.
 
November 2008: 
Rep. Marc Corriveau, D-Northville, released his own compromise that introduces many new concepts and continues the failed concepts of the original House-passed bills. BCBSM is applying pressure to get the Legislature to act quickly and quietly on these confusing and complex bills during lame-duck session.

About Priority Health
Priority Health is a nationally recognized health plan company based in Michigan. It serves nearly a half-million members with a broad portfolio of products including commercial and government health plans. A nonprofit dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, Priority Health was recognized as one of America’s Best Health Plans in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Priority Health employs 1,000 people throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula with offices in Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Traverse City.