Oklahoma Governor Defends Support for Health Insurance Exchange

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin defended her efforts to create a health insurance exchange for uninsured Oklahoma residents, explaining if the state does not have an exchange in place by 2013 the federal government will step in and create its own.

Fallin discussed her support for legislation that would help create the insurance information exchange just four days after about a dozen demonstrators carrying signs and American flags protested her appearance before the Tulsa Health Underwriters Association following her decision to accept a $54 million federal grant to implement it. Opponents say creating an insurance exchange is a step toward implementing the federal health care overhaul law.

The Republican governor said that while in Congress she voted against the health care overhaul bill supported by President Barack Obama. As governor, Fallin also worked with Attorney General Scott Pruitt to file a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the law’s individual mandate requiring all Americans to have health insurance or face penalties.

“So, there’s no question where I stand,” Fallin said, adding that she hopes the law is eventually ruled unconstitutional or repealed by Congress.

But she acknowledged: “As of today the federal health care bill is the law of the land.”

The state House has passed a measure to create an advisory board to help implement an insurance information exchange originally created by lawmakers in 2009 called the Oklahoma Exchange. Part of the state’s Insure Oklahoma program to reduce the number of uninsured Oklahomans, it will identify health insurance plans, what they cover and how much they cost.

Fallin said opponents of the exchange are clearing the way for the Obama administration to create its own exchange and that a state-run exchange would keep the federal government out of the process. The House-passed measure is pending in the Senate.

“Oklahoma wants to design its own health insurance information exchange,” Fallin said. “What best suits our Oklahoma consumer needs? This is very much an Oklahoma solution.”

Fallin discussed the insurance exchange while urging lawmakers to finish work on a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and approve legislation she supports, including changes to the state’s worker’s compensation and civil justice systems and other measures she said will improve Oklahoma’s business climate and create jobs.

“We’re ready and open for business,” she said.

The state House has approved legislation supported by Fallin that would limit damages for so-called pain and suffering experienced by injured Oklahoma residents to no more than $350,000. Supporters of limiting non-economic damages say it will reduce medical malpractice and liability insurance costs for doctors and businesses. Opponents say it would severely limit damages for injured persons with no economic damages.

To close a projected $500 million budget shortfall next year, Fallin has proposed programs to make state government more efficient by merging and sharing technology. Fallin said the state has 76 different financial accounting systems that do not share services.

“It makes no sense. It’s ineffective.” The governor said.

Fallin also supports legislation that would end an appeals process for fired teachers called trial de novo that allows them to go before a judge who determines whether procedures were properly followed during a school board’s dismissal hearing. Supporters say it would reduce school costs while opponents complain it would make teachers more vulnerable.