Looking at Ohio health coverage reform proposals

The Cincinnati Enquirer has a nice overview of different proposals to reform health insurance in the state and find a way to cover the estimated 1.3 million uninsured Ohioans. (Source: "Health reform state's priority," Oct. 21, 2007.) As the article states, "The point man in the statewide effort is Jim Raussen, R-Springdale, who chairs the Ohio House's Health Care Access and Affordability Committee." Raussen and his committee, who have worked closely with Governor Strickland, believe "now is the time when companies, doctors, insurers and advocates for people without insurance all have incentives to find a solution--in stark contrast to a political climate that has poisoned many previous reform proposals."

The article states that Strickland and Raussen don't seem eager to impose mandates or universal coverage. Instead, Raussen said that "We think there are market options out there where we can provide additional incentives in the system." Possible next steps to covering the uninsured, according to Raussen, could be finding "private insurance for high-risk Ohioans, who usually visit emergency rooms for their care, adding cost to the entire system." Another priority could be "the working uninsured, which probably means incentives for companies to insure all of their workers."

The article also mentions a bill already in the Legislature, which isn't endorsed by Strickland or Raussen and his committee, to "build a government-run, single-payer system, with estimated annual costs of $30 billion or more." Another option being explored by legislators is from the the Ohio State Medical Association, which has proposed "a plan mandating that all residents must have basic coverage either through private plans or publicly subsidized policies."