Secure Arkansas

VOTE NO on SB828

Remember:  follow the money!

Another bill has been filed at the Arkansas State Capitol involving Obamacare (a.k.a. the “Affordable” Care Act) called The Arkansas Health Innovations Act of 2015, Senate Bill 828.

It goes before the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.  It’s important that this bill die in committee! 

This bill would give 3 state agencies and 1 non-profit organization broad sweeping powers to ask the federal government for waivers in the Affordable Care Act and also to change our state statutes regarding healthcare and insurance without legislative approval.

Those 4 entities are:

1. The Insurance Commissioner

2. The Department of Finance and Administration

3. The Department of Human Services

4. The Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (the state exchange – a “non-profit public benefit organization” established under Act 1500 of 2013.)

This explains the powers each entity will hold according to the rules in the bill: 

1. Powers of the Insurance Commissioner:
   “23-61-904. Rules.
   (a) The Insurance Commissioner may promulgate rules to implement this subchapter and any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter.”

2. Powers of the Department of Finance and Administration:
   “(b) The Department of Finance and Administration may promulgate rules to implement this subchapter and any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter, including without limitation rules pertaining to the calculation, assessment, or collection of state taxes.”

3. Powers of the Department of Human Services:
   “(c) The Department of Human Services may promulgate rules to implement this subchapter and any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter, including without limitation any required state plan amendments to the Medicaid program, any waivers or other approvals required from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and any other rules pertaining to the Medicaid program.”

4. Powers of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace:
   “(d)(1) The Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace may promulgate rules to implement this subchapter and any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter, including without limitation rules pertaining to the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace.”
   AND
   “(A) Are exempt from the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.;”

Here is a bit of insight about the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (the state exchange) from their website:

“AHIM is governed by the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace Board of Directors.  Members of the AHIM Board are appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  The AHIM Board reports to the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace Legislative Oversight Committee.” 

This bill would also CREATE a Health Insurance Innovation Legislative Steering Committee  (just what we need:  another committee!) comprised of these legislators:

• the Chair of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce – Jason Rapert

• the Chair of the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce – Charlie Collins,

• the Senate Co-Chair of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace

• the House Co-Chair of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace

• the Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor – Cecile Bledsoe (sadly, this family is governing MUCH of our public health policy!)

• the Chair of the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor – Kelly Linck

• the Chair of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation – Jake Files

• the Chair of the House Committee on Revenue and Taxation – Lanny Fite

This pro-Big Government bill is coming from none other than Republican State Senator David Sanders.  In case you weren’t aware:  he and Republican Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert are cousins.  As you’ll notice in the previous paragraph, Senator Rapert will be one of the members of the new legislative steering committee – IF SB828 is passed.

Senator Sanders ran in 3 races for public office and took in $396,845 in campaign contributions (if not more).

Senator Rapert ran in 3 races for public office and took in $771,035 in campaign contributions (if not more). 

Senator Sanders’ SB828 also gives bureaucrats the authority to persist in all kinds of unknown activities with the Obamacare Medicaid Expansion in whatever form it wishes, without getting approval from the legislature.  The bill states:

“(c)  The Department of Human Services may promulgate rules to implement this subchapter and any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter, including without limitation any required state plan amendments to the Medicaid program, any waivers or other approvals required from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and any other rules pertaining to the Medicaid program.”

When it says “any federal waivers sought in furtherance of this subchapter”, how much more broad can it get?  It allows broad sweeping powers:

“23-61-902.  Purpose.

The purpose of this subchapter is to explore, develop, and facilitate innovative approaches to improving access to, affordability, and quality of comprehensive health insurance coverage and health care, including without limitation waiver opportunities under federal law.”

What in the world does “explore, develop, and facilitate innovative approaches” mean, exactly?  We’re not sure where that will lead us…

We do know this:  bureaucracy will be out of control, and there would be no way to rein it back.  We don’t need to grow government any more, and when you involve the federal government (ie. federal waivers), there are conditions and obligations that must be met.

It looks like this SB828 bill will do so much damage to Arkansas, we may not be able to recover from it.  The passage of this bill will push Arkansas over the edge to a downward spiral as our nation falls because of the restructuring of government, U.N. Agenda 21/Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Medicine.  If this tainted healthcare agenda is allowed to continue, Secure Arkansas foresees a devastating public health crisis that will cause a rationing of medical care and force the medical industry and even the state government to eliminate greatly-needed medical technology because it will be too expensive to maintain.  The government and the medical industry will decide what will be done to us, and if you think our quality of life and lifestyle is taking a turn for the worse now, wait until you see what happens with medical care and treatment in the future.  Sadly, you can bet your healthcare will be rationed!

There are many people who need healthcare and can’t afford it, but unfortunately, we foresee our prediction (above) will come to fruition.  Regarding the people who are on Obamacare and like it – it will be like giving someone an addictive drug and then taking it away or significantly reducing what is given.

Regardless of where you stand on the Affordable Care Act, before this bill is passed, we need to know more information about the effect it will have.  We CANNOT take the Nancy Pelosi approach and “pass the bill to know what’s in it.”

Here is a link to the status of SB828.

Once more, here is a link to the bill: SB828.

ACTION:  Please contact the members of the Senate Insurance and Commerce Committee starting Monday, March 9, 2015 and tell them to vote NAY on SB828.  The committee members’ names and contact information are listed below. 

Be sure to forward this email to your family and friends!  Our freedom is important!
They may also sign up to receive our Action Alerts by clicking here.