REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Anti-Choice Legislation For Public Employees Enacted in Georgia

POSTED BY: NIKI2
UPDATED: Saturday, August 10, 2013 16:00
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 649
PAGE 1 of 1

Saturday, August 10, 2013 9:44 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Quote:

The Department of Community Health Thursday approved a benefit design that eliminates abortion coverage except in the case of the mother’s life being in jeopardy. The abortion restriction surfaced as a surprise benefit change this week and went without any board debate prior to the vote.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia will be confirmed as the winner of two major contracts in the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), which covers more than 650,000 state employees, teachers, other school personnel, retirees and dependents.

The abortion restriction mirrors a legislative effort during the 2013 Georgia General Assembly. The move was backed by Gov. Nathan Deal, but failed to pass the Legislature.

In a statement Thursday after the Community Health meeting, United pointed to a reduction in employee choice under the new state plan.

“Competition in the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan is good for plan members and for Georgia taxpayers, because competition drives innovation, quality and value,” United said. “Consumer choice is important in building an affordable, accessible and sustainable health care system, so it’s unfortunate that SHBP plan members such as teachers, state employees and retirees will no longer enjoy competition in the state health benefit plan.”

The medical provider industry has expressed concern that a single insurer for the SHBP could lead to lower payments, especially with the level of savings that the state expects.

Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, an association of rural hospitals in Georgia, told Georgia Health News that he fears the new Blue Cross contract will hurt already struggling rural hospitals by paying them less.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2013-08-08/state-benefits-pla
n-track-controversy
]


Blue Cross/Blue Shield will be the sole insurance provider. Community Health Commissioner Clyde Reese said: “We think choice exists, but others may differ.’’ Yep. And the choice is take it or leave it.
Quote:

Rep. Pat Gardner, D-Atlanta, said the board's action would be more restrictive than federal guidelines, which include abortions for rape and incest.

The decision Thursday by the board of the Department of Community Health means the policy will bypass state lawmakers, who didn't take action on similar legislation earlier this year. Under the policy, all abortion coverage would be banned in the state employee health plan except if the life of the mother is in danger. Currently, an estimated 672,000 members and dependents are enrolled in the state health plan. http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/23099223/georgia-to-limit-abortion-coverag
e-in-employee-plan



Back when the legislation failed to pass the plan to ban state insurance providers from covering abortion on the last day of the state’s legislative session, Gov. Deal vowed to use executive powers to enact the legislation anyway. Seems he found another way to get what he wanted.

In other words, in a week’s time, previously failed abortion legislation was rewritten and given to a state board which quietly passed the measure, circumventing the entire legislative process. Eight people effectively chose for 650,000. And 3 of the 8 said no.

"Both moves carry vast implications and will likely spawn more legal challenges. Already, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna have claimed in court the state has unfairly spurned their bids. And legal analysts say the abortion changes could raise constitutional challenges about the governor’s powers." http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-health-plan-to-restrict-abortion-co
verage/nZJCP
/

I sincerely hope they do.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, August 10, 2013 10:09 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Anti-choice ?

ROFLMAO!

That's rich.

No 'choice' has been denied, what so ever.

Good grief.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, August 10, 2013 11:25 AM

WHOZIT


Q) What is red and sits in the corner and cries?

A) A baby eatting razor blades....AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Dead baby joke!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, August 10, 2013 2:36 PM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by AURaptor:
Anti-choice ?

ROFLMAO!

That's rich.

No 'choice' has been denied, what so ever.

Good grief.




Byte: make notice of yet another example of Rappy's MO. He is the first to reply to Niki, using a dismissive if not insulting tone and a post that is nothing but bait. He throws this out there: "No choice has been denied" obviously begging for a certain response, which will lead to a predictable reply from him, which will go on to yet another thread full of bickering with him as the happy center of attention.

I do hope all the usual parties ignore his bait.

I could make a thread keeping track of Rappy's first replies to Niki's posts. You want to see the roots of breakdowns in RWED? That's all you need.


*---------------------------------------*
The French Revolution would have never happened if Marie Antoinette had just given every peasant an iPhone.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, August 10, 2013 2:40 PM

MAL4PREZ



On topic...

It is interesting how the various states are handling the change in health care. In the next year or so we'll see how things shake down in the states embracing Obamacare versus those who fight it kicking and screaming, or those who use it to enforce fundamentalist restrictions to women's freedoms, like Georgia.

Thanks for the info Niki. I too am curious as to where it'll go.

*---------------------------------------*
The French Revolution would have never happened if Marie Antoinette had just given every peasant an iPhone.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, August 10, 2013 4:00 PM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Thank you, Mal4. I'm trying to refrain from responding to the obvious.

From what I'm reading, states which are working with the ACA are going to have (or already HAVE) lower premiums and a pretty good outcome. Not to say it still doesn't need LOTS of tweaking, but we knew that, just like SS and Medicare, what we can manage to get at first isn't good, and it'll take years to make it better.

The states "run" by right wingers are so bent on it NOT working that they are screwing over their constituents left and right. When the American people eventually understand what the ACA is all about and how it affects them if their states LET IT, Republicans may well pay at the voting booth. They're so desperate to somehow, some way, ANY way, defeat any change to our rancid health-care system that they may well be shooting themselves in the feet. That's sad on two counts, both for them and for the people who are going to suffer until it gets sorted out.


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Elections; 2024
Fri, March 29, 2024 06:56 - 2076 posts
Russia Invades Ukraine. Again
Fri, March 29, 2024 06:20 - 6156 posts
Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
Fri, March 29, 2024 06:18 - 57 posts
In the garden, and RAIN!!! (2)
Fri, March 29, 2024 02:54 - 3414 posts
BUILD BACK BETTER!
Fri, March 29, 2024 02:49 - 11 posts
Long List of Celebrities that are Still Here
Fri, March 29, 2024 00:00 - 1 posts
China
Thu, March 28, 2024 22:10 - 447 posts
Biden
Thu, March 28, 2024 22:03 - 853 posts
Well... He was no longer useful to the DNC or the Ukraine Money Laundering Scheme... So justice was served
Thu, March 28, 2024 12:44 - 1 posts
Salon: NBC's Ronna blunder: A failed attempt to appeal to MAGA voters — except they hate her too
Thu, March 28, 2024 07:04 - 1 posts
Russian losses in Ukraine
Wed, March 27, 2024 23:21 - 987 posts
human actions, global climate change, global human solutions
Wed, March 27, 2024 15:03 - 824 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL