OHIO To stir health-care debate, group challenges critics

Coverage would be provided regardless of income or employment status.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A group that wants to gain health-care coverage for every citizen in the state is challenging the health insurance industry and the state's top insurance official to debate merits of the plan.
Single-Payer Action Network Ohio, which is trying to gather at least 97,000 valid signatures statewide to force the GOP-led Legislature to consider its proposal, has sent letters to the Ohio Association of Health Plans and State Insurance Department Director Ann Womer Benjamin asking for a series of debates.
"Debates of the kind proposed here would, in our opinion, be immensely helpful in educating the public about the issues at stake," said the letters from Jerry Gordon, SPAN Ohio's secretary. SPAN Ohio is a statewide coalition of individuals and organizations seeking health-care reform.
Neither Kelly McGivern, president and CEO of the OAHP, nor the insurance department could immediately be reached to comment Thursday. But both have been critical of SPAN Ohio's plan.
Among the potential problems listed by critics with SPAN Ohio's plan are potentially long waiting periods for medical consumers and a potential government-run bureaucracy overseeing health care in Ohio.
How it works
Under the proposed initiative petition, state residents would receive coverage for inpatient and outpatient hospital, preventive, mental health and other care.
Coverage would be provided regardless of income or employment status and there will be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and no co-payments or deductibles, under the proposed initiative petition filed in July with the state.
The coverage would be paid for using receipts from taxes levied on employers' payrolls, receipts from taxes levied on businesses' gross receipts and some personal income taxes, according to the proposed initiative petition.
Needs signatures
The group got clearance from Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro's office and will be collecting more than 97,000 signatures to place the issue before the Legislature. If the group gets enough valid signatures, state lawmakers would have four months to consider the issue. Otherwise, the group can collect another 97,000 signatures to place the issue on the statewide ballot.
If adopted, the plan could be historic for Ohio, Gordon said. "It will establish health care as a right to be enjoyed by all."
Gordon said supporters are gathering signatures and hope to submit at least 140,000 to get the issue before state lawmakers.
Backers of the health-care proposal said the plan will mirror bills introduced by state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown and state Rep. Michael Skindell of Lakewood, both Democrats.