Governor Bentley Declines Decision on ACA Component; Cites Lack of Proper Options & Information
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: October 1, 2012
Due to a lack of proper options and very little guidance from the federal government, Governor Robert Bentley
on Monday chose not to confine Alabama to an "essential health benefits" plan under the Affordable Care Act.
Governor
Bentley explained his decision in a letter to Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"As
you are aware, I am a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act,"
Governor Bentley wrote. "As both a physician and a governor, I have
determined
that it is irresponsible and short-sighted to make a decision on
essential health benefits by confining the decision to a select few
plans and without having been offered clear guidance from the federal
government."
Under
the Affordable Care Act, "essential health benefits" were to be
established by states as a foundation for medical coverage in the years
2014
and 2015. However, Governor Bentley said the Affordable Care Act does
not present options that consumers need in order to control costs and
actually receive higher-quality care.
"I
truly believe that in order to control costs, consumers themselves must
be a part of any equation. As such, I am a strong supporter of health
savings accounts," Governor Bentley said. "Health savings accounts
empower the consumer in all aspects of health care decision making. The
Affordable Care Act includes many provisions, all supposedly geared
toward making health insurance affordable, yet it
does not include any significant mention of health savings accounts. I
contend that the law does not make health insurance affordable and
negatively affects consumer choice."
"Health
savings accounts provide what the ACA does not: a consumer-oriented,
marketplace-driven option for health coverage," Governor Bentley added.
Without
such an option, and without further information from the federal
government, Governor Bentley said it would be irresponsible for him to
commit
Alabama to a specific benefits plan.
"The
parameters placed on the selection of the essential health benefits
benchmark plan do not allow states to select innovative mechanisms, such
as health savings accounts, or a variation thereof," Governor Bentley
said. "As such, I decline to make a decision on the essential health
benefits benchmark plan. There is simply not enough valid information
available now to make an informed choice for such
an important decision."
