ATLANTA – Governor Nathan Deal recently signed an executive order creating the Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee. The 25 member committee includes State Representative Richard Smith (R-Columbus) among other leaders from the General Assembly.
“It is a tremendous honor to be appointed by Governor Deal to serve on the Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee,” said Rep. Smith. “The key word here is ‘Georgia.’ We do not need the Federal Government developing Georgia’s health care exchange.”
The Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee will determine if Georgia should establish a state-based health care exchange, as required under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). A health care exchange is a type of online clearinghouse where insurance companies can sell their products to consumers. A health insurance exchange would likely increase competition, lower the costs of health insurance, and help inform consumers by allowing them to compare health insurance options without the complications of contacting several different companies.
Under PPACA, states have until January 1, 2014 to establish their own health care exchange. If Georgia does not create a state-run exchange by this deadline, the federal government will establish and manage an exchange for the state. The governor’s executive order states that the advisory committee must report its final recommendations to the governor by December 15, 2011.
Georgia has joined 25 other states in a lawsuit declaring the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, a key component of PPACA, unconstitutional. As this legal challenge to President Obama’s health care law makes its way through the court system, the advisory committee will study whether Georgia should implement the health care exchange portion of the PPACA.
“I want Georgia to have time to thoroughly study this issue as we wait for the judicial process to play out,” said Gov. Deal. “I want to engage Georgians about how we can expand access to health care insurance while lowering the burdensome costs on our state’s families. Georgians don’t want more federal ‘solutions’ and the best way to fight back right now is to manufacture a Georgia solution.”
“It is my hope that this committee will construct the appropriate avenues for our state to implement our own exchange, based on delivering free market solutions for increasing the access and affordability of health insurance. This exchange should also focus heavily on improving the economic viability of creating and expanding small business in Georgia. I look forward to hearing the committee’s recommendations,” Gov. Deal added.
The idea for a state health care exchange is not unique to the PPACA. Three years ago, before the PPACA was enacted, the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 404, the “Georgia Health Marketplace Act,” by a vote of 42-12. This 2008 legislation would have established the Georgia Health Marketplace, an internet portal that would help Georgia consumers find and learn about access to health care products and services. The legislation called for the creation of a website that would have also included specific measurement tools for consumers to use in comparing individual health care products, including brief summaries of deductibles, copayment requirements, covered providers, benefits, premiums, financial soundness ratings, and coverage limits.
The members who will serve on the advisory committee are as follows:
- Rep. Richard H. Smith (R-Columbus)
- Rep. John Meadows (R-Calhoun)
- Rep. Pat Gardner (D-Atlanta)
- Rep. Josh Clark (R-Buford)
- Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas)
- Morgan Kendrick, CEO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia
- Albert C. Ertel, Chief Operating Officer, Alliant Health Plans
- Russell B. Childers, Jr., insurance broker, Georgia Assoc. of Health Underwriters
- Rick Bailey, insurance broker, Rick Bailey & Company, Inc.
- Cindy Zeldin, Executive Director, Georgians for a Healthy Future
- Julianne Thompson, TEA Party
- Ed Painter, grassroots representative
- Phil Brown, Vice President Human Resources, Mohawk Industries, Inc.
- Jimmy Childre, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Kyle Jackson, National Federation of Independent Businesses
- R. Timothy Stack, President and CEO, Piedmont Healthcare
- Alan Levine, HMA Hospital Corporation
- Ricardo Azziz, CEO, MCG
- Ron Bachman, President and CEO, Healthcare Vision, Inc
- David Bradford, Ph.D., Busbee Chair in Public Policy at the University of Georgia
- Lynn Zonakis, Managing Director for Health Strategy and Resources, Delta Airlines
- Gerry Purcell, health insurance consultant
- Pat Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Department of Economic Development
- Ralph Hudgins, Insurance Commissioner
- David Cook, Commissioner, Department of Community Health
Representative Richard Smith represents the citizens of House District 131, which includes portions of Muscogee County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and is currently the Chairman of the Insurance Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Natural Resources & Environment, Rules, and Reappointment committees.
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