Georgia's Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, in a statement to local television station Channel 2 Action news tonight, said he hopes the Obamacare website 'implodes.' The state had previously refused federal funds for an expansion of Medicaid.
With 1.7 million uninsured, Georgia has one of the nation’s highest percentages of adults who lack health insurance, often because they cannot afford it. Georgia also has one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S.
GA was one of many Republican leaning states that demanded more oversight of Affordable Care Act workers to 'protect consumers.'
In the spirit of meanness with which we have become accustomed from Republicans, Hudgens has rolled out many obstacles in the way of navigators who are assisting Georgians with finding information about health care policies available to them through www.healthcare.gov
The state imposed their own certification and licensing requirements, a process that critics say could hinder the availability of navigators. Hudgens ensured that the state required navigators to pass the same test as insurance brokers, even though federal law makes a clear distinction between navigators and brokers.
In August he bragged to a crowd of fellow Republicans in Floyd County: “Everything in our power to be an obstructionist.”“Let me tell you what we’re doing,”
We have passed a law that says that a navigator, which is a position in that exchange, has to be licensed by our Department of Insurance,” Hudgens said.
“The Obamacare law says that we cannot require them to be an insurance agent, so we said fine, we’ll just require them to be a licensed navigator. So we’re going to make up the test, and basically you take the insurance agent test, you erase the name, you write ‘navigator test’ on it.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/...
An Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,Chapter 23 of Title 33 was amended by the passage of HB198. The new law created a new license type entitled Navigator and an intimidating list of other requirements.
Navigators must complete 20 hours of federal training, 10 hours of state training and a fingerprint background check before they can help people sign up through the exchanges in Georgia.
By the end of last month, According to Glenn Allen, a media relations representative for Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens, only four “healthcare navigators” had been licensed in the state.
However, an additional 16 navigators had passed the state insurance exam and 13 were scheduled to take it. Once a navigator passes the test, he or she does not receive a license in Georgia until also passing a background check.
Rules and Regulations 120-2-3-.48 Navigator
(1) No person shall act as a Navigator, as defined in O.C.G.A. 33-23-201(3), without first obtaining a license to act as such from the Commissioner.
(2) The Commissioner may not issue a Navigator license to any applicant until such applicant has:
(a) Submitted an application on forms provided by the Commissioner. Such form shall include an acknowledgement from the applicant that such applicant understands that a Navigator license is not alone sufficient to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance in the State of Georgia;
(b) Submitted an application fee of 50 dollars pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 33-8-1(6)(Z);
(c) Submitted a résumé listing the applicant’s educational background and experience related to the functions of a Navigator;
(d) Successfully completed not less than 35 hours of instruction;
(e) Passed an exam as required by the Commissioner;
(f) Attained the age of 18;
(g) Submitted electronic fingerprints through a vendor selected by the Department to run criminal background checks. The applicant shall bear the cost for electronic fingerprinting; and
(h) Submitted proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that such applicant (or such applicant’s sponsoring entity) has been approved by the federal authorities, by being awarded a grant or otherwise, to act as Navigator, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 33-23-201(3).
(3) Each Navigator license shall expire August 31.
(4) In determining whether any applicant has satisfied the pre-licensing education requirement set forth in subparagraph (d) of paragraph (2) of this regulation, the Commissioner may consider any training provided by federal authorities to act as a Navigator, as defined in O.C.G.A. § 33-23-201(3). Up to 25 hours of pre-licensing training may consist of education provided by federal authorities provided that the applicant submits documentation, satisfactory to the Commissioner that the applicant has, in fact, spent the amount of time requested engaged in federal pre-licensing training. If the applicant completes 25 hours of federal navigator training, the remaining 10 hours must be satisfied by completing the 10 hour Navigator prelicensing course through an approved provider.
The Navigator Pre-licensing Course must contain a minimum of ten (10) hours of instruction in
1. Health Benefit Insurance,
2. The Exchange Provision of the Federal Act,
3. The Medical Assistance Program provided for by Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49,
4. The PeachCare for Kids Program provided for by Article 13 of Chapter 5 of Title 49,
5. Information pertaining to state licensing laws and,
6. Any other information which will give the applicant a proficient knowledge of state insurance laws.
http://www.legis.ga.gov/...
The state of Georgia through its top leadership, including the Insurance Commissioner and Governor Nathan Deal, have made it clear that they have no concern or empathy for the plight of the state's uninsured. For them good health care should be a luxury, attainable only for certain classes. Health care providers deserve to be financially rewarded by 'the market' and doctors should serve only those with deep pockets. Medical professionals should be ensconsed behind the majestic walls of million dollar facilities dispensing presriptions for expensive medications, tests and other services. If many of the sick cannot afford them - too bad.
One wonders why 'red states' continue to elect politicians who have no concern for their basic welfare. They clearly have a much different view of the purpose of government than the rest of the country, one which jeopardizes the lives of millions.
