MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - The managed care regulation debate in Missouri's General Assembly hits close to home for some lawmakers who work for insurance providers or the medical profession.
"Because of my experience, my training and work with patients, perhaps I have a slightly jaundiced eye toward (the HMO debate)," said Sen. Marvin Singleton, the only Missouri legislator who is a physician.
However, Singleton, R-Joplin, said his proximity to the issue has been a boon because of his firsthand knowledge.
"I have information that probably no one else has in the Senate from a provider standpoint," he said.
Singleton - a Republican who has supported business interests on other issues -- said he plans to vote for managed care regulation because he thinks it is in the best interest of the consumer.
As an ear, nose and throat specialist, Singleton works with numerous health maintenance organizations.
"I've spent 30 or 40 minutes on the phone with three different people at a managed care company trying to get authorization for a procedure," Singleton said, echoing a common physician complaint with the current managed care structure.
Two of the most vocal House opponents to the omnibus bill, which would set statewide standards for all managed care providers, work for companies that provide health insurance coverage.
Reps. Ron Auer and Scott Lakin, who voted against the House bill, both agreed their insurance perspective helped them bring an educated opinion to the House floor.
"I thought I brought some information and expertise to the issue because I work with it on a daily basis," said Auer, D-St. Louis, who works for Group Health Plan, a managed care provider. "I think that brings some insight to how managed care actually works."
Auer said many representatives have primarily heard complaints from consumers regarding managed care, while he has seen its positive aspects.
Lakin, D-Kansas City, works for Hokanson, Lehman & Stevens, Inc., an insurance brokerage firm, where he sells health insurance to small businesses.
"I was one on the front lines," he said.
Lakin said his conversations with small business owners through his job sparked his initial interest in legislative health care issues.
However, Lakin noted he does not always vote in line with his profession and therefore said he feels confident that his managed care position is not solely based on his background.
"I took a lot of heat when I came out in favor of health care reform in '94," he said.
Unlike many other government workers who are prohibited from exercising decision-making authority on matters in which they have direct financial interests, state lawmakers are under no such restriction.
Instead, they have to disclose their interest in public reports.