• The 2007/2008 Legislative Session is off and running.   All of the committees have been re-constituted and have been holding organizational meetings, adopting committee rules for the new year before beginning to consider the numerous bills that will be referred to them.  Both the Committee on Health Care Financing and the Committee on Financial Services will be considering legislation that will be of interest to MassAHU members.  The Senate and House Clerks' offices are currently reviewing the bills and referring them to the respective committees. 

• The Committee on Financial Services held its first informational meeting recently, giving all those organizations that appear before the committee an opportunity to introduce themselves to the committee members, especially the new members of the committee and make the committee aware of some of the issues that will be coming before the committee.  MassAHU was represented at the hearing by its Legislative Counsel, Dan Foley, who told the committee members about the association and its membership. He briefly described some of the issues that will be of interest to its members - the ongoing implementation of the new Health Care Reform law and the important role that insurance producers play in the distribution of health care products, especially sold through the Connector to the uninsured population.  Mr. Foley also thanked the House Chair of the Committee, Rep. Ronald Mariano for his help in making sure that insurance producers were included in the sale of health insurance products through the Connector and that they would be paid a commission.  Certainly, the enactment of the NAIC Long Term Care Model Act will be one of MassAHU's legislative priorities this session.  Sen. Harriet Chandler of Worcester has refiled this bill again, which currently just has a docket number, SD-1577.  Rep. Ronald Mariano has filed a bill that deals with the Long Term Care Partnership program, HD-1029.

• Other issues of interest this session that will be addressed by Legislature involve the areas of Health Information Technology, Healthcare Transparency and reforms to the Medical Malpractice System, just to mention a few that have been outlined in MassAHU's Position Statement on Massachusetts Health Care Reform.  Most of these types of issues will be considered by the Committee on Health Care Financing, chaired by Senator Richard T. Moore and Representative Patricia Walrath.  Both of these legislators were key players in crafting the new Health Care Reform law that passed last year.  Senator Moore has filed bills that address the following: SD-590 would reform the medical malpractice system, SD-614 promotes healthcare transparency and consumer-provider partnerships, and SD-624 that promotes the use of health information technology.

• MassAHU's Legislative Committee will be reviewing the hundreds of bills that have been filed that deal with health insurance, long term care,as well as related issues, once the texts of the bills become available.  As positions are taken on legislation that is being considered, you will be kept apprised of them and any action that our members may need to take i.e. contacting your respective Senator and Representative on a particular issue. 

• Implementation of the new health care reform law is being closely monitored by MassAHU.  Of particular interest and concern is the Health Care Connector as it continues its work in the development of Commonwealth Choice program, with open enrollment scheduled for May 1st.  MassAHU has addressed its concerns and its positions on many issues to the members of the Health Care Connector Board of Directors as well as to Senator Moore and Representative Walrath.  MassAHU wants to make sure that the Connector Board knows the important role that independent insurance producers have in the overall distribution system of the health insurance market when establishing policy concerning the distribution of its products.  Our members are at the forefront of the reform process, providing guidance to employers, business and industry groups and individuals.  Critical to the success of the health care reform law is the involvement of licensed insurance producers.
  

• Our members involvement in the legislative process is critical if MassAHU is to continue to be your VOICE and ADVOCATE on Beacon Hill on insurance issues that directly impact your business.  Solid constituent contacts with your legislators can make a difference in determining whether legislation will pass or fail. Help us help you by getting involved when we call upon you for help in contacting you Senator or Representative.