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Today the Center for Rural Affairs provided supportive testimony at a hearing before the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee of the Nebraska Unicameral regarding LB 835, also know as the Nebraska Health Benefit Exchange Act.
“This legislation would set Nebraska on a path to meet the state’s responsibilities set forth in the Affordable Care Act to provide a vehicle for Nebraskans who currently struggle to obtain affordable health care coverage to purchase affordable, quality, comprehensive health insurance,” said Jon Bailey, Rural Research and Analysis Director at the Center for Rural Affairs.
According to Bailey, the Nebraska Health Benefit Exchange that would be established by the bill is crucial for many in rural Nebraska. Rural Areas of the state have more residents who are either self-employed or employed in small businesses. Incomes in rural areas are generally lower and more rural residents are without health insurance. Many rural families - especially farmers and ranchers - purchase health insurance in the individual market and employer-supported health insurance is generally less available in rural communities.
“In a very real sense, the health insurance exchanges of the Affordable Care Act are meant for rural people and their families. A well-functioning health insurance exchange is critical for addressing the health insurance and health care needs of rural Nebraskans,” continued Bailey.
Dr. Amanda McKinney, a physician at the Women’s Health Center of Beatrice, also testified in support of LB 835.
“I am here to speak today on behalf of LB 835 as it pertains to establishing the guidelines for a Health Insurance Exchange for the State of Nebraska,” said McKinney. “There are two bills being brought forward but it is my opinion that LB 835 offers a better opportunity for consumer advocacy and value.”
According to McKinney, one of the most important decisions facing the committee is where the exchange should be housed and how it should be governed. LB 835 creates a strong, independent governing board that will assure consumer advocacy. It provides that an eleven member governing board would be made up of members from each Congressional district, one member to represent the interest of small businesses, two members to represent the interests of health care providers and one member to represent the interests of health insurance agents.
“I strongly urge the Legislature to establish an independent or quasi-governmental non-profit entity. This is the structure being pursued in 34 other states,” added McKinney.
Jane Yule, a self–employed Family Nurse Practitioner, also provided testimony today. “I am a lifelong resident of Nebraska and have lived the last 25 years with my husband Loren on our farm near Lindy, in Northeast Nebraska. As we are both self-employed, I am familiar with all the issues regarding the purchase of private health insurance,” said Yule.
Today the Center for Rural Affairs provided supportive testimony at a hearing before the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee of the Nebraska Unicameral regarding LB 835, also know as the Nebraska Health Benefit Exchange Act.
“This legislation would set Nebraska on a path to meet the state’s responsibilities set forth in the Affordable Care Act to provide a vehicle for Nebraskans who currently struggle to obtain affordable health care coverage to purchase affordable, quality, comprehensive health insurance,” said Jon Bailey, Rural Research and Analysis Director at the Center for Rural Affairs.
According to Bailey, the Nebraska Health Benefit Exchange that would be established by the bill is crucial for many in rural Nebraska. Rural Areas of the state have more residents who are either self-employed or employed in small businesses. Incomes in rural areas are generally lower and more rural residents are without health insurance. Many rural families - especially farmers and ranchers - purchase health insurance in the individual market and employer-supported health insurance is generally less available in rural communities.
“In a very real sense, the health insurance exchanges of the Affordable Care Act are meant for rural people and their families. A well-functioning health insurance exchange is critical for addressing the health insurance and health care needs of rural Nebraskans,” continued Bailey.
Dr. Amanda McKinney, a physician at the Women’s Health Center of Beatrice, also testified in support of LB 835.
“I am here to speak today on behalf of LB 835 as it pertains to establishing the guidelines for a Health Insurance Exchange for the State of Nebraska,” said McKinney. “There are two bills being brought forward but it is my opinion that LB 835 offers a better opportunity for consumer advocacy and value.”
According to McKinney, one of the most important decisions facing the committee is where the exchange should be housed and how it should be governed. LB 835 creates a strong, independent governing board that will assure consumer advocacy. It provides that an eleven member governing board would be made up of members from each Congressional district, one member to represent the interest of small businesses, two members to represent the interests of health care providers and one member to represent the interests of health insurance agents.
“I strongly urge the Legislature to establish an independent or quasi-governmental non-profit entity. This is the structure being pursued in 34 other states,” added McKinney.
Jane Yule, a self–employed Family Nurse Practitioner, also provided testimony today. “I am a lifelong resident of Nebraska and have lived the last 25 years with my husband Loren on our farm near Lindy, in Northeast Nebraska. As we are both self-employed, I am familiar with all the issues regarding the purchase of private health insurance,” said Yule.
Yule further explained that her three grown children also reside in Nebraska and face the same insurance issues as they consider farming or small business opportunities as career options.
“Many of the patients that I see as a nurse practitioner do not have insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. The most common reasons they give for not having insurance are that they or their spouse lost their insurance along with their job or that due to preexisting conditions, it is too expensive,” said Yule.
“I see how hard it is for a person who has just lost their job to search for and find quality, affordable health insurance in our current system, when dealing with all the other stressors that occur with major life events,” Yule concluded. “And, as we are all aware, people without insurance end up postponing necessary medical care to the point of finally getting the services through costly hospital emergency services.”
[note: copies of testimony referred to herein are available in an electronic format upon request]
The Center also offered testimony in opposition to LB 838, a second health exchange bill introduced this session. “In our opinion LB 838 does not provide adequate consumer and small business voices on the implementation of the health benefit exchange,” Bailey explained. “While the bill speaks to the Department of Insurance consulting with ‘stakeholders,’ there is nothing in it that provides consumer or small business representation on any oversight or advisory board.”
Testimony submitted by the Center for Rural Affairs voiced concerns that this lack of consumer and small business representation likely means those for whom the health benefit exchange is meant to serve will be denied any kind of voice in how the health benefit exchange operates and how it addresses the needs of those who will be using it.
Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
