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]
Constitutional changes
If enacted by a majority of Arizona voters, the measure would amend Article X, Section 4 of the Arizona Constitution to read as follows:[4]
- A. All lands held in trust and pursuant to this article, and all lease-holds, timber, and other products of land, before being offered for sale or disposal, shall be appraised at their true value.
- B. No sale or other disposal of trust land shall be made:
- 1. For a consideration less than the value so ascertained, nor in any case less than the minimum price hereinafter fixed.
- 2. Upon credit unless accompanied by ample security.
- C. The legal title shall not be deemed to have passed until the consideration has been paid.
Article X, Section 4 currently reads:
All lands, lease-holds, timber, and other products of land, before being offered, shall be appraised at their true value, and no sale or other disposal thereof shall be made for a consideration less than the value so ascertained, nor in any case less than the minimum price hereinafter fixed, nor upon credit unless accompanied by ample security, and the legal title shall not be deemed to have passed until the consideration shall have been paid.
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.[5]
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.[6]
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."[7]
- "Many Americans look at a federal overhaul of healthcare as a threat, and don't see how they will benefit from covering millions of uninsured people at taxpayer expense."[8]
Opponents
Arguments against
An editorial by the Los Angeles Times states these arguments against the measure:
- It's not clear whether a state constitution can defeat a federal healthcare mandate.
- Allowing people to ignore a national mandate to buy insurance would encourage them to carry policies only when they need treatment.
- Implicit in proposals such as Arizona's is an every-man-for-himself vision of society.
- Why shouldn't the healthy be able to refuse to pay for insurance they're confident they won't use? Because they have a stake in making healthcare affordable for those who need it. The healthier the public is as a whole, the more productive it is and the faster the economy can grow.
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
Similar measures
Articles
External links
References
- ↑ Fox News, "State Lawmakers Considering Move to Opt Out of Federal Health Care", June 25, 2009
- ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "Medical reform measure returns - with changes", May 26, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arizona Republic, "Arizona ballot measure sought on health care choices", May 27, 2009
- ↑ State of Arizona, "HCR 2014", 2009
- ↑ Arizona Capitol Times, "GOP sends 3 measures to 2010 ballot", August 5, 2009
- ↑ Politico, "Rights of Arizonans -- and Americans", October 30, 2009
- ↑ East Valley Tribune, "Arizona in position to be federalism shield", July 18, 2009
- ↑ The Los Angeles Times, "One Nation, Insured", November 16, 2009
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