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Wed.: House Approps okays health plan bill
posted at 2009-04-08 10:12 | Last modified 2009-04-08 10:13
S287, the controversial State Health Plan reform measure, narrowly passed House Approps this morning on a 44-40 vote. It wasn's strictly party line, either. At least five Democrats voted against it: Brisson, Harrell, Jackson, Martin, and Ross.
The committee heard about 10 amendments to the bill. One successful amendment requires full disclosure for future SHP provider contracts. Another requires better coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment. A third requires a monthly review of billing.
Best (?) moment: at the end of the 90-minute meeting, before the final vote, Larry Womble asked for a summary of what the newly amended bill would actually do. No one responded. But Womble and 43 other lawmakers voted for it, anyway.
S287 is now headed for the House floor. It could come up on the calendar as soon as tomorrow, but if the narrow margin in Approps is any sign, it may take some time for sponsor Hugh Holliman to line up the votes to pass it.
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