All Eyes Turn To Federal Health Care… Again (updated)

We knew coming into the session that the state’s efforts to implement federal health care reform would come under fire from a variety of different positions.

It was a hot-button issue on the 2010 campaign trail and many freshmen legislators touted opposition to the health care overhaul as they rode a wave of voter discontent to victory. Fervor over the topic hasn’t subsided as a slew of state bills and federal court rulings have kept the debate alive. Also, Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford will be championing efforts to set up Arkansas regulations to implement the new federal mandates through shell bills, SB 880 and SB 904.

On Wednesday, State Sen. Missy Irvin (R-Mountain View) will be front-and-center in the Senate Public Health Committee presenting SB 709 and the state Republican Party apparatus has made sure to publicize the proceeding.  Activist groups associated with the Arkansas T.E.A. Party have promoted the bill as an effort to "prevent full implementation of Obamacare."

Irvin, whose husband is a private practice family physician in north central Arkansas, tells Talk Business that her bill is pretty straightforward – she wants state agencies to document the expenses they will incur to implement the federal health law.

Language in the bill would require an explanation of duties created to implement federal health care, an estimate of the number of state residents who will be impacted, and the cost to the state to rev up programs.

"My bill is very simple. It basically asks for disclosure and accountability from our government to our state legislature. How are they going to spend our money, how much are they going to spend, and what are we on the line for?" she explains.

Irvin hasn’t asked for a fiscal impact statement for her bill, but she acknowledges that there will be costs associated with collecting cost data.

"I think that your state agencies are starting to scramble too trying to find the answers for themselves," said Irvin. "Yes, there is going to be time involved and a cost to generate reports… the cost I think is going to be minimal as to what we’re going to be facing with the whole change."

Irvin has spoken with Gov. Mike Beebe about the bill. He has conveyed his worries that the language could complicate his Medicaid reform efforts, according to Irvin.

That said, Beebe’s concerns may be the least of her worries. Of the 8-member Senate Public Health panel, 4 are Democrats and 4 are Republicans – Irvin being one of the 4 GOP members. We’ll see if she has the magical fifth vote to spring the bill from committee.

You can view more comments from Irvin in the video below.

UPDATE: Irvin’s bill failed in the Senate committee this morning on a 4-4 party line vote.