Three of the bills scaling back the Certificate of Public Need restrictions on the health care market were reported out of House Health, Welfare and Institutions – Subcommittee #3: HB193 (sponsored by John O’Bannon III), HB350 (Kathy Byron), and HB689 (Chris Peace, who spoke to BD earlier this month about how the COPN regime nearly deep-sixed New Kent County’s efforts to get an Emergency Room facility with MRI and CT capability). None of the bills received fewer than four “aye” votes (out of five). Bobby Orrock (who serves on Subcommitte 3 and is Chairman of the Health Committee) voted “aye” for all three of them.
The lone dissenter on O’Bannon and Byron’s bill was Democrat Matthew James, a troubling sign that COPN reform could become a partisan issue. However, James did vote for Peace’s bill (which was reported out with unanimous support on the subcommittee). If James’ fellow Democrats follow his lead on the Peace bill, it would mean that at least some measure of COPN reform could get bipartisan support. That would greatly improve the prospects of passage in the State Senate (where the Republicans have only 21 of 40 seats), to say nothing of Governor McAuliffe’s reception if it were to reach his desk.
I’ve posted a number of times (with an assist from Norm Leahy) on how the COPN scheme has limited health care supply in the Commonwealth, leading to higher prices, higher insurance rates, and less health care availability for all. It’s good to see that Republican Delegates clearly get that – and one Democrat, too, at least some of the time.
