Health and Human Services Task Force

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has eight task forces:


 * the Civil Justice Task Force,
 * the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force,
 * the Communications and Technology Task Force,
 * the Education Task Force,
 * the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force,
 * the Health and Human Services Task Force,
 * the International Relations Task Force, and
 * the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force.

(Until it was disbanded in April 2012, ALEC also operated a Public Safety and Elections Task Force, which adopted such "model" bills as the "Stand Your Ground" bill or "Castle Law" doctrine and the voter ID act.)

This article is about ALEC's Health and Human Services Task Force. Corporations can join this task force for $3,000 a year. For model legislation crafted and adopted by the Health and Human Services Task Force, go here.

2013 States and Nation Policy Summit Substantive Agenda
The following "model" bills were proposed for the Washington, DC conference:


 * "Health Professional Modernization Act" (PDF, p. 7)
 * "Medicaid Block Grant Act" (PDF, p. 10)
 * "Medical Consultation Act" (PDF, p. 21)
 * "Navigator Background Check Act" (PDF, p. 22)
 * "Oral Health Standards Act" (PDF, p. 24)
 * "Patient Access Expansion Act" (PDF, p. 25)

Presentations and discussions schedule for the meeting included:


 * "An Update on Outstanding ACA Lawsuits"
 * "Exploring Access to Investigational Medication"
 * "Health Exchange Implementation"
 * "Medicaid Expansion and Enrollment Trends"
 * "Are Exchanges Worth the Risk?"

2012 ALEC Winter Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda
The following "model" bills were proposed at the Washington, DC conference:


 * "Health Professional Modernization Act" (This proposal intends to free "advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice to the full extent of their education and training, states can increase their citizens’ access to quality primary care.")


 * "Patient Access Expansion Act" (This proposal intends to prohibit "maintenance of licensure, maintenance of certification, and specialty certification as state requirements to practice medicine. It also prohibits the state medical board from funding the Federation of State Medical Boards.")

2012 ALEC Spring Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda
The following "model" bills were adopted at the Charlotte conference:


 * "Charity Health Care Tax Credit Act" (presented by Sen. Judson Hill of Georgia) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. It "allows state tax credits for individuals, families, and nonprofit charity healthcare organizations who provide health care services to the uninsured.")


 * "Regional Health Care Coalition Act" (presented by Sen. Judson Hill of Georgia) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. It "authorizes the insurance commissioner to establish a coalition of states, with similar health insurance laws, to adopt an alternative approval process for comprehensive major medical plans")


 * "Health Care Price Disclosure Act" (presented by Sen. Nancy Barto of Arizona) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. It "requires healthcare professionals to make available the "direct pay" price for the 25 most common medical services or procedures.")


 * "Resolution Supporting the Repeal of IPAB" (presented by Doctor-Patient Medical Association) (The introduced resolution is on file with CMD. It "supports the repeal of the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board in the federal health law.")

2011 ALEC Winter Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda
The following model bills were proposed at the Scottsdale conferance:


 * "Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care Services and Supports Act" (presented by Pam Perry, Amerigroup) (This proposal would implement, "a coordinated and capitated long-term care program for Medicaid beneficiaries who are chronically ill or who have disabilities and need health and long-term care services and supports, such as home care or adult day care.")


 * "Resolution Urging States and Interested Parties to Partner and Identify Opportunities to Address and Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse" (presented by Candie Phipps, Endo Pharmaceuticals) (This proposal, "calls on state officials, prescribers, pharmacists, school-based organizations, and manufacturers of branded and generic prescription medications to partner and evaluate existing efforts aimed at deterring prescription drug abuse; to determine the effectiveness of current efforts; and to make recommendations to the state on best practices for combating abuse while ensuring that access is not restricted for those individuals who are in need of prescription medications.")


 * "Health Care Equitable Payment Act" (presented by Jane Orient, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons) (This proposal intends to put, "certain guidelines in place to prevent third-party payers from engaging in discriminatory payment practices with independent healthcare providers and self-paying patients.")


 * "Resolution Ensuring Patient Protections Remain in Place in Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits" (presented by Rep. Linda Miller of Iowa) (This proposal, "urges state officials to implement certain safeguards and patient protections if the state’s Medicaid pharmacy benefits are transitioned from a fee-for-service setting to managed care.")


 * "Standards for Health Care Communication Act" (presented by Josh Brown, Pfizer) (This proposal "ensures that academic detailers are bound to the same standards and rules as those in the private sector. “Academic detailing” is comprised of prescriber outreach programs typically funded by the government or by universities.")

2011 ALEC Summer Task Force Summit Substantive Agenda
The following model bills were proposed at the New Orleans conference:


 * "Health Care Equitable Reimbursement Act" (presented by Jane Orient, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons) (It proposes that health care insurers be, "prohibited from decreasing reimbursement, voiding previously met deductibles, or increasing co-pays to health care insureds who, for any reason, seek care from an out-of-network physician.")


 * "Resolution Urging States and Manufacturers of Prescription Medications to Partner and Identify Opportunities to Address and Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse" (presented by Candie Phipps, Endo Pharmaceuticals) (This proposal, "calls on the states and the manufacturers of prescription medications to partner and identify opportunities to reduce the incidence of prescription drug abuse, while still ensuring that access is not restricted for those individuals who are in need of prescription medications.")


 * "Resolution Against PPACA Health Insurance Exchanges" (presented Senator Nancy Barto of Arizona) (This proposal, "urges state officials to stop planning PPACA exchanges and urges Congress to defund such efforts.")


 * "State Employee Health Savings Account Act" (presented by Amanda Griffin-Johnson, Illinois Policy Institute) (This proposal "requires the state to offer state employees a health benefit plan that utilizes Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) paired with high-deductible health plans," and "further requires that the employer cost of the HSA-compatible health plan not exceed the average per person employer cost of traditional insurance plans the state is currently offering.")


 * "Resolution Supporting Choices for Americans with Disabilities" (presented by Daryn Demeritt, ResCare) (This proposal "urges states to close state operated facilities and move persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) to home and community based waiver services (HCBS).")


 * "Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care Act" (presented by Senator Renee Untermanby of Georgia) (This proposal intends "to implement a managed long-term care program for Medicaid beneficiaries who are chronically ill or have disabilities and who need health and long-term care services, such as home care or adult day care.")


 * "Health Care Compact Act" (presented by Arlene Wohlgemuth, Texas Public Policy Foundation) (This proposal seeks to establish an Interstate Advisory Health Care Commission, which "may study issues of health care regulation that are of particular concern to the member states... [and] make non-binding recommendations to the member states.")


 * "Health Professional Modernization Act" (presented by Arlene Wohlgemuth, Texas Public Policy Foundation) (This act proposes "putting all primary care providers underneath the authority of their respective boards in their states. This puts the regulation of these primary care providers underneath the authorities that understand them best but that still operate subject to the will of the legislature.")

2011 ALEC Annual Meeting Substantive Agenda
According to the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting Program, the following things were discussed and covered: "Medicaid fraud, health insurance rate review, and the health insurance 'excise tax'...A number of proposed ALEC model bills and resolutions will be considered, including legislation on health care reimbursement, Health Savings Accounts for state employees, Medicaid managed care, health care compacts, and scope of practice issues."

Co-Chairs

 * Sen. Judson Hill (R-GA 32), Public Sector Chair
 * Marianne Eterno (Guarantee Trust Life Insurance), Private Sector Chair

Guarantee Trust Life Insurance is a company based in Glenview, IL that provides insurance to K-12 schools, community and junior colleges and universities as well as athletic groups, camps, child care, and special events. Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company is a private company and does not publicize its annual revenue. Its website has the following information: $190 million in invested assets, $177 million in total liabilities, $131 million in total reserve for life policies and contracts, and accident and health policies, and $42 million in net surplus.


 * Leah Vukmir (R-WI), Former Public Sector Chair

Corporate Executive Committee
(For-profit, Trade or Other Group)
 * Jeff A. Buel (Director of State Government Affairs, Johnson & Johnson)

Buel worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca before joining Johnson & Johnson in 2000. He represents Johnson & Johnson at PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry's chief trade association, as New Mexico chair and Arizona vice chair. He lobbies for Johnson & Johnson in Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah.


 * Kristin Parde (Director of State Policy, PhRMA)

Parde is the PhRMA policy liaison to the southeast and midwest regions of the United States. She was previously the ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Director (a staff position) and managed ALEC's Disorder in the Court Project. She has also worked for the Institute for Justice."

Politicians

 * Rep. Paul Anderson (MN R-13A), Member
 * Charlice Byrd (R-GA), Member (2010)
 * Judson Hill (R-GA), Member (2010)
 * Renee Unterman (R-GA), Member (2010)
 * Linda Upmeyer (R-IA), Former Co-Chair
 * Sen. Fred Dyson (AK R-I), Member
 * Rep. Cecil P. Ash (AZ R-18), Member
 * Rep. Nancy Barto (AZ R-7), Member
 * Rep. Brenda Barton (AZ R-5), Member
 * Rep. Peggy Judd (AZ R-25), Member
 * Rep. Kimberly Yee (AZ R-10), Member
 * Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (AR R-8), Member
 * Sen. Melissa Irvin (AR R-10), Member
 * Rep. Cindy Acree (CO R-40), Member
 * Rep. Kenneth Summers (CO R-22), Member
 * Sen. Kevin Lundberg (CO R-15), Member
 * Rep. Al Adinolfi (CT R-103), Member
 * Rep. Jason Perillo (CT R-113), Member
 * Rep. Whit Bett (CT R-78), Member
 * Rep. John Wood (FL R-65), Member
 * Rep. Matt Hudson (FL R-101), Member
 * Rep. Sharon Cooper (GA R-41), Member
 * Rep. Donna Sheldon (GA R-105), Member
 * Rep. Judy Manning (GA R-32), Member
 * Sen. Patti Anne Lodge (ID R-13), ALEC State Chairman and Member
 * Rep. Patricia Bellock (IL R-47), Member
 * Rep. Mary Flowers (IL D-31), Member
 * Rep. JoAnn Osmond (IL R-61), Member
 * Sen. Christine Radogno (IL R-41), Member
 * Sen. David Syverson (IL R-34), Member
 * Rep. Timothy Brown (IN R-41), Member
 * Rep. David Frizzell (IN R-93), Member
 * Sen. Jean Leising (IN R-42), Member
 * Rep. David Heaton (IA R-91), Member
 * Rep. Linda Miller (IA R-82), ALEC State Chairman and Health and Human Services Task Force Member
 * Rep. Peggy Long-Mast (KS R-76), Member
 * Rep. Brenda Landwehr (KS R-91), Member
 * Rep. Kelly Meigs (KS R-17), Member
 * Rep. Peggy Mast (KS R-76), Member
 * Sen. Chris Steineger (KS D-6), Member
 * Sen. Joey Pendleton (KY D-3); Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force and Health and Human Services Task Force
 * Sen. Alice Kerr (KY R-12), Member
 * Sen. Julie Denton (KY R-36), Member
 * Sen. Tim Shaughnessy (KY D-19), Member
 * Rep. Dale Erdey (LA R-13), Member
 * Rep. Harvey LeBas (LA D-38), Member
 * Rep. Jean Doerge (LA D-10), Member
 * Rep. John LaBruzzo (LA R-81), Member
 * Rep. Thomas Willmott (LA R-92), Member
 * Sen. Willie Mount (LA D-27), Member
 * Del. Adelaide Eckardt (MD R-37B), Member
 * Del. Nicholaus Kipke (MD R-31), Member
 * Del. William Frank (MD R-42), Member
 * Rep. Matthew Lori, (MI R-59), Member
 * Rep. Kenneth Kurtz (MI R-58), Member
 * Sen. Bruce Caswell (MI R-16), Member
 * Sen. Gretchen Hoffman (MN R-10), Member
 * Rep. Jessica Upshaw (MS R-95), Member
 * Rep. Lee Yancey (MS R-20), Member
 * Rep. Mac Huddleston (MS R-15), Member
 * Rep. Michael Watson (MS R-51), Member
 * Rep. Sidney Bondurant (MS R-24), Member
 * Rep. Becky Currie (MS R-92), Member
 * Sen. Eugene Clarke (MS R-22), Member
 * Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (MO R-157), Member
 * Rep. Ellen Brandom (MO R-160), Member
 * Rep. Eric Burlison (MO R-136), Member
 * Rep. Keith Frederick (MO R-149), Member
 * Rep. Sue Allen (MO R-92), Member
 * Rep. William White (MO R-129), Member
 * Rep. Gary MacLaren (MT R-89), State Chairman, Member
 * Rep. John Esp (MT R-61), Member
 * Rep. Liz Bangerter (MT R-80), Member
 * Sen. Danielle Conrad (NE 46), Member
 * Sen. Dave Pankonin (NE 2), Member
 * Sen. Joseph Hardy (NV R-12), Member
 * Rep. J. Gail Barry (NH R-16), Member
 * Rep. John Reagan (NH R-1), Member
 * Rep. Susan Emerson (NH R-7), Member
 * Rep. Nora Espinoza (NM R-59), Member
 * Sen. Sue Beffort (NM R-19), Member
 * Rep. Jeff Barnhart (NC R-82), Member
 * Rep. Julia Howard (NC R-79), Member
 * Rep. Tom Murry (NC R-41), Member
 * Rep. William Current (NC R-109), Member
 * Rep. Alon Wieland (ND R-13), Member
 * Rep. Chet Pollert (ND R-29), Member
 * Rep. Jeff Delzer (ND R-8), Member
 * Sen. Gerald Uglem (ND R-19), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force and Health and Human Services Task Force Member
 * Sen. Judy Lee (ND R-13), Member
 * Rep. Barbara Sears (OH R-46), Member
 * Rep. James Butler (OH R-37), Member
 * Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (OH R-75), Member
 * Sen. David Burke (OH R-26), Member
 * Rep. Doug Cox (OK R-5), Member
 * Rep. Pam Peterson (OK R-67), Member
 * Rep. Ronald Peters (OK R-70), Member
 * Sen. Brian Crain (OK R-39), Member
 * Rep. Marcia Hahn (PA R-138), Member
 * Rep. W. Brian White (SC R-6), Member
 * Sen. Thomas Alexander (SC R-1), Member
 * Rep. Jamie Boomgarden (SD R-17), Member
 * Rep. Manny Steele (SD R-12), Member
 * Rep. Phil Jensen (SD R-33), Member
 * Sen. Elizabeth Kraus (SD R-33), Member
 * Sen. Tim Rave (SD R-25), Member
 * Rep. Bob Ramsey (TN R-20), Health and Human Services Task Force and Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Alternate
 * Rep. David Shepard (TN D-69), Member
 * Rep. Jimmy Eldridge (TN R-73), Member
 * Rep. Joseph Armstrong (TN D-15), Member
 * Rep. Julia Hurley (TN R-32), Member
 * Sen. Mike Bell	 (TN R-9), Member
 * Rep. Susan King (R-71), Member
 * Rep. Ralph Sheffield (TX R-55), Member
 * Rep. Mark Shelton (TX R-97), Member
 * Rep. Jose Menendez (TX D-124), Member
 * Rep Bryan Hughes (TX R-5), Member
 * Sen. Jane Nelson (TX R-12), Member
 * Rep. Dean Sanpei (UT R-63), Member
 * Rep. David Clark (UT R-74), Member
 * Rep. Bradley Daw (UT R-60), Member
 * Sen. Peter Knudson (UT R-17), Member
 * Sen. Daniel Liljenquist (UT R-23), Member and Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
 * Del. S. Chris Jones (VA R-76), Member
 * Del. John O'Bannon (VA R-73), Member
 * Del. Jimmie Massie (VA R-72), Member and Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
 * Del. Christopher Peace (VA R-97), Member
 * Sen. Stephen H. Martin (VA R-11), Member
 * Rep. Barbara Bailey (VT R-10), Member
 * Sen. Doug Ericksen (WA R-42), Member
 * Rep. Dan Knodl (WI R-24), Member
 * Rep. John Nygren (WI R-88), Member
 * Rep. Warren Petryk (WI R-93), Member
 * Rep. Erik Severson (WI R-28), Member
 * Sen. Mary Lazich (WI R-28), Member
 * Rep. Kathy Davison (WY R-20), Member
 * Sen. Leslie Nutting (WY R-07), Member
 * Sen. Dan Dockstader (WY R-16), Member

Staff

 * Christie Herrera, Director
 * Monica Mastracco, Legislative Assistant
 * David Myslinski, Former Legislative Assistant

ALEC Health Care Task Force in 1993
For reference, the National Task Force on Health Care in 1993 (when ALEC members fought Hillary Clinton's health reform effort) included:


 * Co-Chairman Rep. Tom Wilder (GA)
 * Corporate Co-Chairman Spencer Hathaway (Syntex Laboratories, Inc.)
 * Legislative Director Molly Hering
 * Legislative Assistant Barbara Perez

Politicians

 * Rep. Steve McDaniels (R-TN)
 * Rep. David Hale (MO)
 * Rep. Pat Blake (R-AZ)
 * Rep. Howard Hendrick (R-OK)
 * Rep. Dale Van Vyven (R-OH, deceased 2010)
 * Sen. Jim Neal (DE)
 * Rep. Karen Steele (VT)

Corporate, Trade Group, or other Group Members

 * CIBA-GEIGY
 * Industrial Biotechnology Association
 * Nationwide Insurance
 * National Association for Home Care
 * Solvay Pharmaceutical
 * National Business Association
 * Hoffman-LaRoche
 * Council for Affordable Health Insurance
 * The Traveler's Companies
 * PFL Life Insurance Company
 * Georgia Medical Assocation
 * National Health Insurance
 * Schering-Plough (since acquired by Merck)
 * General Electric Medical Systems
 * Humana Corporation
 * Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association
 * Texas Medical Association
 * Hoechst-Roussell Pharmaceutical Corporation
 * Burroughs Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline)
 * Johnson & Johnson
 * Rhone-Poulene Rourer
 * Parke-Davis
 * Glaxo, Inc. (now GlaxoSmithKline)
 * Association of Health Insurance Agents
 * Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (now the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA)
 * Health Insurance Association of America (merged with American Association of Health Plans in 2003 to become America's Health Insurance Plans or AHIP)
 * National Association of the Self-Employed
 * National Federation of Independent Businesses
 * Genentech, Inc.
 * Imperial Chemical Industries Pharmaceuticals (acquired by AkzoNobel in January 2008)
 * Merck, Sharp & Dohme
 * The UpJohn Company (now Pharmacia AB)
 * Boehringer Ingelheim
 * The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company
 * Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 * Golden Rule Insurance
 * Lederle Laboratories
 * Long Term Care, Inc.
 * Wallace Laboratories
 * Central Reserve Life

Task Force "Advisors"

 * Prof. Leonard "Jack" Nelson (Cumberland Law School)
 * Ed Haislmaier (Senior Research Fellow in Health Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, and a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Public Policy Research)
 * Wendell Cox (then the ALEC Director of State Legislation and Policy, and in 2011 Senior Fellow of Urban Growth and Transit Policy at the Heartland Institute )
 * Jimmy Mason (Senior Advisor, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Legislative Members

 * Rep. Ron Johnson (AL)
 * Rep. Bill Filanle (CA)
 * Sen. Herman Holloway (DE)
 * Rep. David Thomas (FL)
 * Rep. Evan Frasure (ID)
 * Sen. Patricia Miller (IN)
 * Rep. Susan Stokes (KY)
 * Rep. William Constantino (MA)
 * Rep. Tony Onnen (MN)
 * Rep. Jim Barnett (MS)
 * Rep. Fred Thomas (MT)
 * Rep. Mary Holmes (NH)
 * Sen. Tarky Lombardi (NY)
 * Sen. Donna Nalewaja (ND)
 * Rep. Robert Netzley (OH)
 * Sen. Ron Peterson (PA)
 * Rep. Joan Quick (RI)
 * Rep. Walt Bain (VT)
 * Del. Steve Martin (VA)
 * Rep. Peggy Rosenzweig (WI)
 * Rep. Les Bowren (WY)
 * Sen. Jan Brewer (AZ)
 * Rep. Philip Pankey (CO)
 * Rep. George Albright (FL)
 * Rep. Anne Mueller (GA)
 * Rep. Donna Jones (ID)
 * Rep. Dolores Mertz (IA)
 * Sen. Gerry Hinton (LA)
 * Rep. Carl Gnodtke (MI)
 * Rep. Dorothy Cole (MS)
 * Rep. Bonnie Sue Cooper (MO)
 * Rep. David Humke (NV)
 * Rep. Nicholas Felice (NJ)
 * Rep. Theresa Esposito (NC)
 * Rep. Ken Svedjan (ND)
 * Rep. Mary Fallin (OK)
 * Rep. Donald Snyder (PA)
 * Rep. Edward Marrapese (RI)
 * Sen. John Holgren (VT)
 * Sen. James West (WA)
 * Rep. Gregg Underheim (WI)
 * Rep. Rick Tempest (WY)
 * Rep. Bob Watts (AR)
 * Sen. George "Doc" Gunther (CT)
 * Rep. Dennis Jones (FL)
 * Sen. Stan Koki (HI)
 * Rep. Manny Hoffman (IL)
 * Sen. Dick Roeding (KY)
 * Del. Martha Klima (MD)
 * Rep. Dave Gruenes (MN)
 * Sen. Robert G. Huggins (MS)
 * Rep. Mike Foster (MT)
 * Sen. Ray Rawson (NV)
 * Sen. Anthony Williams (NM)
 * Rep. Richard Morgan (NC)
 * Sen. Grace Drake (OH)
 * Sen. Bob Shoemaker (OR)
 * Rep. Dave King (PA)
 * Rep. Jack Harris (TX)
 * Sen. Steven Rees (UT)
 * Sen. Leonard Anderson (WV)
 * Rep. Frank Urban (WI)
 * Sen. Gail Zimmerman (WY)

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * American Legislative Exchange Council
 * ALEC Task Forces
 * Civil Justice Task Force
 * Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force
 * Communications and Technology Task Force
 * Education Task Force
 * Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force
 * International Relations Task Force
 * Public Safety and Elections Task Force
 * Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force

External Articles

 * Wendell Potter, ALEC Exposed: Sabotaging Healthcare, PRWatch.org, July 14, 2012, originally published in The Nation magazine, August 1-8, 2011 edition.