Supports Patients’ Bill of Rights with right to sue
We’re introducing a Patients’ Bill of Rights that many of you have been working for. It will protect patients’ rights, and it will make our principle very clear - if an insurer denies access to its consumers and that denial results in injury
then they must face the consequences just as a doctor, nurse or hospital. Those insurers who are trying to limit your medical treatment have to accept the accountability as well as the profit.
Source: State of the State Address to North Carolina Legislature
Feb 19, 2001
Prescription drug plan for seniors reduces net costs
We will have a prescription drug plan for seniors. The rising cost of medication has caused many to choose between pain medication and antibiotics. The result is they end up sick, in the hospital - more cost for us and more suffering for them.
We have the funds available from a portion of the tobacco settlement to help our seniors - the greatest generation. They were there for us when we needed them, and we will be there for them now that they need us. No Excuses.
Source: State of the State Address to North Carolina Legislature
Feb 19, 2001
No federal pre-emption of employee health plan regulation.
Easley adopted the National Governors Association position paper:
The Issue
In 1999, 42.6 million Americans did not have health insurance. All states have been fervently working to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, to make health insurance more affordable and secure, and to provide quality health care at a reasonable cost to the uninsured. However, the federal government has also expressed an interest in this issue. Any action taken at the federal level could have serious implications for traditional state authority to regulate the health insurance industry and protect consumers.
NGA’s Position
Although the Governors are extremely sensitive to the concerns of large multi-state employers, the fact remains that the complete federal preemption of state laws relating to employee health plans in the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is the greatest single barrier to many state reform and patient protection initiatives.
The Governors support efforts designed to enable small employers to join together to participate more effectively in the health insurance market. In fact, Governors have taken the lead in facilitating the development of such partnerships and alliances. However, these partnerships must be carefully structured and regulated by state agencies in order to protect consumers and small businesses from fraud and abuse and underinsurance. NGA opposes attempts to expand federal authority under ERISA. The Governors have identified the prevention of such federal legislation in the 107th Congress as a top legislative priority.
States have the primary responsibility for health insurance regulation. Across the nation, Governors are working to protect consumers and patients and to properly regulate the complicated health insurance industry.
Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA13 on Oct 5, 2001
