Coming up on Crossover Day
Bills addressing campus sexual assault and ‘surprise’ medical charges are slated for action today.
State lawmakers have until the end of Friday to pass bills from one chamber to the other or see them die for the year.
“Crossover Day is a long day,” said Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-Armuchee. “We know that. We prepare for it as part of what we do.”
Two of the more controversial House bills are slated to go to the floor for votes today. One changes how colleges deal with sexual assaults on campus; the other takes aim at so-called “surprise” medical bills from out-of-network providers.
HB 71 — a lengthy set of requirements to let patients know up front if their health charges won’t be covered by insurance — was set for a Tuesday vote but pulled at the last minute. Rep. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, the majority whip, said it could be tweaked before it’s presented.
“We wanted to have a little time to take in some opposing views,” Coomer said. “We have a big caucus with lots of different ideas, and it’s our job to come up with the best solutions to serve the most people.”
Even if the House bill isn’t passed by Friday, he said, the Senate passed a bill last week that addresses the issue. The two pieces of legislation differ significantly, but could be reconciled through a conference committee before the session ends March 31.
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, called HB 71 “a really bad bill” that would likely send many healthcare providers to other states.
“It says every physician has to be in-network, but the insurance companies decide what the (reimbursement) rates are,” he said. “I’m glad the majority of the House didn’t support it today. I hope we can get together and pass a fair bill.”
Four of his amendments are in Senate Bill 8, which passed that chamber, 52 to 0, and crossed over to the House. It requires the use of the independent FAIR Health database to set reimbursement rates.
“This was formed in New York … because the insurance company database worked like a Volkswagen. When you checked it, it was good, but when you used it, it was bogus,” Hufstetler said. “If we use this, customers don’t get caught in the middle between the providers and insurance companies.”