ATLANTA (March 3, 2011) – A bill seeking to restore the power of states to regulate their individual health care systems was formally introduced in the Georgia State Senate this week. State Sen. Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton) has sponsored Senate Bill 177, or the interstate “Health Care Compact.” The measure is aimed at protecting Georgia’s 10th Amendment rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. The 10th Amendment affirms any powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states such as health care regulation, according to Bethel.
“No place in the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government control of how a state should operate its health care system which means that the states reserve a 10th Amendment right to manage it how we see fit,” said Bethel.. “This legislation is a joint effort from states across the nation to ensure that right is protected going forward by installing it into our state laws. States deserve control over health care goods and services and this Compact will guarantee our 10th Amendment rights are protected.”
A compact, says Bethel, is two or more states coming together and then consented to by Congress. States who are members of the Compact can suspend federal health care regulations once they adopt superseding legislation into their state laws. The federal government would still have jurisdiction over military health care in every U.S. state under the Health Care Compact.
The Compact would authorize any legislative body of a state which belongs to the Compact full authority over their health care system. The member states would receive an annual appropriation of mandated spending funds from the federal government which could be adjusted every year based on changes to population and/or inflation.
Bethel pointed out member states can leave the Compact at any time. He also stated that the Compact will not have any affect on the ongoing legal challenges by multiple states to the federal health care reform plan passed by Congress in 2010.
SB 177 has been assigned to the Senate Insurance & Labor committee for consideration.
Sen. Charlie Bethel represents the 54th Senate District, which includes Murray and Whitfield counties and portions of Catoosa and Gordon counties. He serves as Senate Deputy Whip.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 3, 2011
For Information Contact:
Matt Colvin, Broadcast Director
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028