Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment (2010)

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An Arizona Health Insurance Reform Amendment, or House Concurrent Resolution 2014, will be on the November 2010 ballot in Arizona. State legislators in both the Arizona Senate and Arizona House of Representatives voted to put the measure before the state's voters.[1]

The proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution is sponsored by state representative Nancy Barto.[2]

HCR 2014 would amend the Arizona Constitution by barring any rules or regulations that force Arizonans to participate in a health-care system. The proposed amendment would also ensure that individuals have the right to pay for private health insurance.[3]

Similar to 2008 measure

The proposed health insurance reform amendment is similar to a November 2008 proposition that narrowly failed, Proposition 101. However, the new version has some changes that take into account the main criticism levied against the 2008 measure. The new version ensures that patients covered under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System will not be negatively impacted if the amendment passes. In 2008, AHCCCS officials argued that Proposition 101 would increase costs by preventing the agency from requiring patients to seek services from within its network of providers.[3]

Supporters


Rep. Barto speaks about Health Care Freedom Act

State representative Nancy Barto supports the amendment, and sponsored it in the state legislature.[4]

In an opinion piece written by Dr. Eric Novak of Glendale, Arizona, supporter of a similar 2008 initiative, he tries to clear up an misinterpretation about the proposed bill on Politico.com. The wrong "assertion" came in another opinion piece that appeared on the website on October 28, 2009. Dr. Novak stated in his writing:

The Health Care Freedom Act was born from an idea that I had in 2006, when the health care system was just as unsustainable, and the desperate need for reform was as equally apparent as it is today. The principle was and remains simple: Unless we act decisively to protect the rights of Americans and their families to remain in control of their health and health care decisions, those rights will be sacrificed on the altar of health care reform.[5]

Arguments in favor

Arguments that have been made in favor of a "yes" vote include:

  • It would "protect the rights of Arizona to determine its own, best health care system."[6]

Similar measures in other states

Groups in Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are considering a similar proposal. Two of these states (North Dakota and Wyoming) allow ballot initiatives; in the other three states, the state legislature would have to vote it onto the ballot using their state's procedure for constitutional amendments.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Fox News, "State Lawmakers Considering Move to Opt Out of Federal Health Care", June 25, 2009
  2. ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "Medical reform measure returns - with changes", May 26, 2009
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arizona Republic, "Arizona ballot measure sought on health care choices", May 27, 2009
  4. ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "GOP sends 3 measures to 2010 ballot", August 5, 2009
  5. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28905.html Politico, "Rights of Arizonans -- and Americans", October 30, 2009]
  6. ↑ East Valley Tribune, "Arizona in position to be federalism shield", July 18, 2009
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