Senate Protest and Analysis Thread

[Governor Scott]

The New Atlasian Healthcare Act
Co-sponsored with Senator MOPolitico

Section 1- Eligibility and Benefits

    (a.) All individuals residing in Atlasia are eligible to be covered under the Atlasian National Health Care Program offering them a high quality standard of care.
    (b.) The health care benefits under this Act cover all medically necessary services, including at least the following:

            Primary care and prevention.
            Inpatient care.
            Outpatient care.
            Emergency care.
            Prescription drugs.
            Durable medical equipment.
            Long-term care.
            Palliative care.
            Mental health services.
            The full scope of dental services (other than cosmetic dentistry).
            Substance abuse treatment services.
            Chiropractic services.
            Basic vision care and vision correction (other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes).
            Hearing services, including coverage of hearing aids.
            Podiatric care.

    (c.) Such benefits are available through any licensed health care clinician anywhere in Atlasia that is legally qualified to provide the benefits.
    (d.) No deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing shall be imposed with respect to covered benefits, but additional insurance from private sources is not forbidden.
    (e.) All private and public hospitals and doctors are required to be participating providers, and are not permitted to deny care on the basis of one's enrollment in the Atlasian National Health Care Program.
    (f.) All health insurance companies, public or private, shall be required to join the health insurance Exchange to be legally licensed to provide services. No company in the Exchange may deny coverage on the basis of previous health condition. The Exchange shall be governed by the Health Directorate, who shall be responsible for determining proper levels of reimbursement, management, administration and other related health industry needs.
(g.) Prescription drug companies shall not be allowed to advertise their products outside of certified medical journals.

Section 2- Finances

    (a.) The Atlasian Government, through the Atlasian National Health Care Program's regional offices, shall be financially obligated to cover: all costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals below 250% the poverty level; 50% of the costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals between 250% the poverty level and $250,000; and 10% of the costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals above $250,000.
    (b.) Licensed health care clinicians who accept any payment from the Atlasian National Health Care Program may not bill any patient for any covered service.
    (c.) Funding for this proposal shall be drawn from the following sources:

            Cost reductions in other federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, as a result of administrative and cost savings and shifts in funding priorities
            Taxes levied on health insurance benefits as follows: 0.5% for incomes below 250% the poverty level; 2% for incomes between 250% the poverty level and $250,000; 3.5% for incomes between $250,001 and $1,000,000; and 5.5% for incomes above $1,000,000.

Section 3- Administration

    (a.) This Act shall be administered by the Health Directorate, made up by a Chairman and the Executives of the regional CHP boards.
    (b.) Medicare and Medicaid shall be phased out, with all necessary personnel and services being transferred to the Atlasian National Health Care Program upon its establishment.

Section 4- Regional Administration

    (a.) The provision of healthcare and the administration of budgets and services shall be the responsibility of independent Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) congruent to the existing Regions These shall be established as public sector corporations. Each CHP shall be headed by a board consisting of one Executive and further non-executive members.
    (b.) CHP members shall be selected by the Health Directorate and shall be a non-partisan gathering of experts in the medical, pharmaceutical, and health insurance and administration industries.
    (c.) All boards shall be required to have an audit committee consisting only of non-executive members on which the chair may not sit. This committee shall be entrusted with the supervision of financial audit and of systems of corporate governance within the CHP.
    (d.) CHP's shall have responsibility for delivering primary and community services and commission them from other providers, and are involved in commissioning secondary care. Each CHP shall have their own budget and set their own priorities and shall directly provide a range of community health services including but not exclusive to;

            The provision of funding for general practitioners and medical prescriptions.
            The commission of hospital and mental health services from the private sector.

    (e.) All members, directors and associated bodies shall be accountable to the Health Directorate as outlined in Section 3 of this Act.

This is still being sponsored, correct?

[Senator Clarence]

Is there a list of bills that have been passed- I know drugs are legal for example but I do not want to put forward a bill which is moot

[Governor Scott]

Is there a list of bills that have been passed- I know drugs are legal for example but I do not want to put forward a bill which is moot

The wiki should have most- if not all- passed legislation listed.

[Frodo]

The New Atlasian Healthcare Act
Co-sponsored with Senator MOPolitico

Section 1- Eligibility and Benefits

    (a.) All individuals residing in Atlasia are eligible to be covered under the Atlasian National Health Care Program offering them a high quality standard of care.
    (b.) The health care benefits under this Act cover all medically necessary services, including at least the following:

            Primary care and prevention.
            Inpatient care.
            Outpatient care.
            Emergency care.
            Prescription drugs.
            Durable medical equipment.
            Long-term care.
            Palliative care.
            Mental health services.
            The full scope of dental services (other than cosmetic dentistry).
            Substance abuse treatment services.
            Chiropractic services.
            Basic vision care and vision correction (other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes).
            Hearing services, including coverage of hearing aids.
            Podiatric care.

    (c.) Such benefits are available through any licensed health care clinician anywhere in Atlasia that is legally qualified to provide the benefits.
    (d.) No deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing shall be imposed with respect to covered benefits, but additional insurance from private sources is not forbidden.
    (e.) All private and public hospitals and doctors are required to be participating providers, and are not permitted to deny care on the basis of one's enrollment in the Atlasian National Health Care Program.
    (f.) All health insurance companies, public or private, shall be required to join the health insurance Exchange to be legally licensed to provide services. No company in the Exchange may deny coverage on the basis of previous health condition. The Exchange shall be governed by the Health Directorate, who shall be responsible for determining proper levels of reimbursement, management, administration and other related health industry needs.
(g.) Prescription drug companies shall not be allowed to advertise their products outside of certified medical journals.

Section 2- Finances

    (a.) The Atlasian Government, through the Atlasian National Health Care Program's regional offices, shall be financially obligated to cover: all costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals below 250% the poverty level; 50% of the costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals between 250% the poverty level and $250,000; and 10% of the costs from services and benefits provided to the enrolled by the participating providers for individuals above $250,000.
    (b.) Licensed health care clinicians who accept any payment from the Atlasian National Health Care Program may not bill any patient for any covered service.
    (c.) Funding for this proposal shall be drawn from the following sources:

            Cost reductions in other federal health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, as a result of administrative and cost savings and shifts in funding priorities
            Taxes levied on health insurance benefits as follows: 0.5% for incomes below 250% the poverty level; 2% for incomes between 250% the poverty level and $250,000; 3.5% for incomes between $250,001 and $1,000,000; and 5.5% for incomes above $1,000,000.

Section 3- Administration

    (a.) This Act shall be administered by the Health Directorate, made up by a Chairman and the Executives of the regional CHP boards.
    (b.) Medicare and Medicaid shall be phased out, with all necessary personnel and services being transferred to the Atlasian National Health Care Program upon its establishment.

Section 4- Regional Administration

    (a.) The provision of healthcare and the administration of budgets and services shall be the responsibility of independent Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) congruent to the existing Regions These shall be established as public sector corporations. Each CHP shall be headed by a board consisting of one Executive and further non-executive members.
    (b.) CHP members shall be selected by the Health Directorate and shall be a non-partisan gathering of experts in the medical, pharmaceutical, and health insurance and administration industries.
    (c.) All boards shall be required to have an audit committee consisting only of non-executive members on which the chair may not sit. This committee shall be entrusted with the supervision of financial audit and of systems of corporate governance within the CHP.
    (d.) CHP's shall have responsibility for delivering primary and community services and commission them from other providers, and are involved in commissioning secondary care. Each CHP shall have their own budget and set their own priorities and shall directly provide a range of community health services including but not exclusive to;

            The provision of funding for general practitioners and medical prescriptions.
            The commission of hospital and mental health services from the private sector.

    (e.) All members, directors and associated bodies shall be accountable to the Health Directorate as outlined in Section 3 of this Act.

This is still being sponsored, correct?

No idea -I am having trouble seeing the differences between this bill and the law we already have, and why this should be considered an improvement.  For that matter, why go through the trouble of repealing the previous law when you could simply amend it if you're that dissatisfied with it but want to keep the overall structure in place?  

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

According to Marokai's post a few weeks ago, sponsorship would fall to the remaining co-sponsors. Someone could be added probably with the agreement of the remaining sponsor and such being properly moved within the procedures once the bill has reached the floor.

[shua]

When is the Senate going to start doing bills again?

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Probably whenever Marokai Blue gets replaced as PPT, the VP takes over the job on a permenent basis, or I am empowered to do so. 

[Jayhawker]

I contacted MB earlier today about his future as PPT. Expect action very soon.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I contacted MB earlier today about his future as PPT. Expect action very soon.

By the way, did you ever publically transfer the authority of the President of the Senate to the PPT as required by the OSPR for the PPT to run the Senate?

[Governor Scott]

Is there somewhere I can find a list of other countries that Atlasia currently has trade agreements with?

[Senator Napoleon]

Is there somewhere I can find a list of other countries that Atlasia currently has trade agreements with?

http://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Omnibus_Trade_Reorganization_%26_Wiki_Consolidation_Act

[Diabolical Minds Think Alike]

So glad we don't have an embargo on Cuba. Their coffee is freaking amazing.

[shua]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

[shua]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

You mean bills since the last update?

[shua]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

You mean bills since the last update?

Yes, that would be good. Basically everything from 2012 so far.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

You mean bills since the last update?

Yes, that would be good. Basically everything from 2012 so far.

What about the Noticeboards, would they provide a clear reference as to what is relevant and what isn't?

[shua]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

You mean bills since the last update?

Yes, that would be good. Basically everything from 2012 so far.

What about the Noticeboards, would they provide a clear reference as to what is relevant and what isn't?

Yeah, that'll work.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

At this point, I don't plan on doing a budget update until someone makes the statute wiki page up to date.  It's really a bit much for me to dig through the forum to find the new spending and tax bills in addition to measuring their impact.

so no ones gonna help me out here

You mean bills since the last update?

Yes, that would be good. Basically everything from 2012 so far.

What about the Noticeboards, would they provide a clear reference as to what is relevant and what isn't?

Yeah, that'll work.

46-48 should include all that has been done since the beginning of the year.

[Senator Napoleon]

There are many offices we should look at scrapping; Senate seats do not fall into that category.

[Governor Scott]

The State of Maryland shall be transfered to the Northeast Region, residents therein shall become citizens of and subject to the laws duly adopted in that region.

When this bill comes to the floor, I will amend for this to be taken out.

1.The Senate shall be composed of ten eight Senators, each with a term of four months

This is also completely ridiculous.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The reduction of the Senate is unavoidable with this change. You are going from 5 regions to 4 regions. I removed 1 At-Large seat to keep it neutral as far as the balance between regions and popular interests so that it doesn't run afoul of the regional rights movement, which would kill it.

Whenever you try to do to many things with these big reforms you fail. If you break down the current balance in the Senate, you open a whole knew can of worms that this doesn't need, because it will be hard enough to do this as it is.

[Senator Napoleon]

Then your amendment is the very definition of counterproductive and should be defeated. The whole point of reducing the number of regions is to enhance competition and activity. It doesn't so much good if you go and remove the competitive aspects of the At-Large seats. There is no reason why there can't be six At Large seats and give parties a chance to compete for more seats.

[Governor Scott]

This is why I'm probably not going to vote for the bill even if the changes I'd like are made.  I remember someone came up with a proposal earlier about merging the Pacific and Midwest, but allowing the regions to retain their borders for representation purposes.  Putting a law like this in place would be preferable.  Reducing the number of Senate seats will hurt activity, not stimulate it.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Then your amendment is the very definition of counterproductive and should be defeated. The whole point of reducing the number of regions is to enhance competition and activity. It doesn't so much good if you go and remove the competitive aspects of the At-Large seats. There is no reason why there can't be six At Large seats and give parties a chance to compete for more seats.

This is not my amendment and I do not obligate myself to support it, either. It is up to the person who asked me to introduce it for them to make the case for this. I am neutral at present.

6 At-Large to 4 Regional seats is completely unacceptable. At that point it becomes the same as ILV's amendment.