Another day, another power grab by Obama’s apparatchiks. This time, they have decided that the hilariously titled Affordable Care Act empowers them to take over a function normally carried out by state regulators:
The Obama administration will soon take over the review of health insurance rates in 10 states where it says state officials do not adequately regulate premiums for insurance sold to individuals or small businesses.
And which states require the “help” of our friends from Washington?
Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming do not have effective rate review programs for either individual or small-group health insurance … the administration said.
Now, what do these states have in common? 3 states keep partial control:
In Iowa, Pennsylvania and Virginia the federal government will review proposed rate increases for small groups and will allow states to review individual rates.
So, you ask, what criteria are used by our masters friends in Washington to determine if a state has “effective” oversight? Well, it’s kinda like those waivers. They haven’t deigned to explain it to the affected states:
In a typical letter to one state, Steven B. Larsen, deputy administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said, ‘Iowa does not meet the criteria for an effective rate review program in the small-group market.’ He did not cite specific deficiencies.
Steven Larson? Now, why does that name sound familiar? Oh, now I remember. He’s in charge of the CCIIO, the infamous federal agency that has issued nearly 1,500 ObamaCare waivers.
Mr. Larson gets to issue waivers to some states while taking over the insurance oversight apparatus of other states. And he won’t tell us how he makes his decisions to do either.
I can’t understand why anyone would suggest this is a government takeover of health care. Can you?
[ht John Goodman]
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