Calls Needed For Health Care Freedom in Ohio!

Passing out of the Ohio House in October 2015, the Health Care Compact (HB 34) has a new life and making an end of session comeback to put Ohio back in charge of our own healthcare destiny.

The Health Care Compact legislation can be one of the most powerful and one of the most important bills that can pass this legislative session. The Health Care Compact would empowere member states with the legislative and fiscal freedom to make health care truly reflective of the health care needs of their state and not a costly one-size-fits-all federal health care program (Affordable Care Act) that has proven to be a failure.

The Ohio Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee is holding hearings on the Health Care Compact (HB 34) today and tomorrow. To read the text of HB 34, click here. To read the Legislative Services analysis of HB 34, click here.


Already passed in 9 states, in line with health care freedom Ohioans have been fighting for and looked at favorably by the incoming Trump Administration, more and more the Health Care Compact is becoming the clear solution to Obamacare....

Obamacare is dead.  Long live ... what?  That is unclear.  "Vice President-elect Mike Pence said Tuesday that repealing and replacing ObamaCare would be the first item on President-elect Donald Trump's agenda," according to Fox News.  Its successor will emerge from a series of discussions soon to take place.  "It’ll be the first thing out of the gate. ... He wants the Congress when they convene in early January to take up the task of repealing and replacing ObamaCare first."

One of the possible replacements could be the Health Care Compact if only because the list of those who supported H.J.Res.50 reads like a Who's Who in the incoming administration.

• Indiana (home to VP-elect Pence)


• Alabama (AG-nominee Sessions)


• Georgia (HHS nominee Price)


• Texas (endorsed by Sen. John Cornyn)


• Kansas (proposed and endorsed by Rep. Pompeo and Sec. of State Kris Kobach)


• Oklahoma (endorsed by Sen. James Lankford)

The program that Mother Jones once derided as "a longshot" and pipe-dream of a delusional Tea Party has now come within measurable distance of becoming a serious contender to replace Obamacare.

HHS nominee Tom Price's rhetoric suggests he would have no objections in principle to  taking Washington out of the picture. In a quote cited by the Wall Street Journal Price said:  “We think it’s important that Washington not be in charge of health care,” the six-term congressman said in an interview this summer. “The problem that I have with Obamacare is that its premise is that Washington knows best.”

Congressman Price supporting the Health Care Compact, which utilizes block grants for the states and is a state based solution, is consistent with the incoming strategy of Trump & Pence as noted below....

Trump and Pence reissued their calls to eliminate barriers to encourage competition between health insurers across state lines, make it easier for Americans to open health savings accounts and block grant Medicaid funds to the states

Please contact the below GOP members of the Senate Government Oversight &Reform Committee and respectfully request that they support the Health Care Compact (HB 34) and put Ohioans in charge of their own health care destiny.


Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
State Senator Bill Coley (R) Chair
PH: (614) 466-8072
Email: Click Here


State Senator Bill Seitz (R) Vice-Chair
PH: (614) 466-8068
Email: Click Here


State Senator Troy Balderson (R)
PH: (614) 466-8076
Email: Click Here


State Senator Dave Burke (R)
PH: (614) 466-8049
Email: Click Here


State Senator Kris Jordan (R)
PH: (614) 466-8086
Email: Click Here


State Senator Frank LaRose (R)
PH: (614) 466-4823
Email: Click Here


State Senator Larry Obhof (R)
PH: (614) 466-7505
Email: Click Here


State Senator Tom Patton (R)
PH: (614) 466-8056
Email: Click Here 


State Senator Bob Peterson (R)
PH: (614) 466-8156
Email: Click Here

Ohio Moves One Step Closer to Health Care Freedom: Health Care Compact

 

For Immediate Release 

Oct. 1, 2015

 

Contact: Diana Price

Clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

 

 

Ohio Moves One Step Closer

to True Health Care Freedom

Ohio - In passing the Health Care Compact ( HB 34) on Sept. 29, 2015,  the Ohio House took the initial steps to place the State of Ohio on a path to true health care freedom. In a 61-31 vote (7 not voting), the Ohio House set in motion the process of becoming a member state of the Health Care Compact.

 

The Health Care Compact would give member states the legislative and fiscal freedom to make health care truly reflective of the health care needs of their state and not a costly one-size-fits-all federal health care program (Affordable Care Act) that has proven to be a failure.

 

“For years, we have heard the complaints about the ACA. We have also seen attempt after attempt to repeal the ACA, but with no back-up plan. Ohio, along with several other states, has taken the lead to find a suitable replacement for the federal control of our healthcare system,” noted bill co-sponsor Rep. Wes Retherford (OH-51).

 

"By returning these dollars to the states, we can start working on state-by-state reforms that best serve our constituents. Ohioans are demanding actions, not just words, and today the Ohio House took that step,” Retherford said after the vote.

"Because it provides true health care freedom and allows Ohioans to break free from the freedom-sapping chains of Obamacare, the Health Care Compact is the only constitutional avenue for citizens to have a voice in their own health care decisions,” stated Tea Party Patriots State Coordinator Ralph King.

"Sponsors Rep. Wes Retherford (OH-51) & Rep. Terry Boose (OH-57), the many co-sponsors, Speaker Rosenberger, & all the Ohio House members voting in support of it should be applauded for using every constitutional means available to put what is best for Ohio first."

"Nine other states have already passed the Health Care Compact," King continued, “and we are looking forward to the Ohio Senate making Ohio the 10th state."

-- # --

Health Care Compact (HB 34) Passes Ohio House

Moving Ohio one step closer to finally achieving true health care freedom, the Ohio House passed the Health Care Compact (HB 34) earlier today.

From Rep. Wes Retherford & Rep Terry Boose -- 

For Immediate Release:

September 30, 2015

Ohio House Passes Health Care Compact

Legislation gives Ohio more freedom over its healthcare policies

COLUMBUS—During today’s session, the Ohio House of Representatives passed legislation that, with approval from Congress, would give Ohio more freedom and flexibility over its healthcare policies.

House Bill 34, sponsored by Rep. Retherford and Rep. Boose, ratifies the Health Care Compact., through which Ohio would enter a multi-state contract that would secure more rights to the states for healthcare policy decisions. The measure is a response to rising costs and deficits, as well as the increased federal overreach into health care. If signed into law by Governor Kasich and approved by the US Congress, the Compact allows Ohio to suspend the operation of all federal laws and regulations that are inconsistent with Ohio laws adopted through the Compact. Should Congress approve the Compact, however, it would still be up to the state legislature whether to change Ohio’s healthcare policy, as well as what those specific changes would be.

Under the legislation, Ohio would receive federal funding to support health coverage each fiscal year. The amount of funding would be determined based on the estimated level of federal funding used for health care, which would be updated periodically based on population and inflation.

“For years, we have heard the complaints about the ACA. We have also seen attempt after attempt to repeal the ACA, but with no back up plan. Ohio, along with several other states, have taken the lead on finding a suitable replacement to the Federal control of our healthcare system. By returning these dollars to the states, we can start working on state by state reform that will best serve our constituents. I want to thank my colleagues in supporting my efforts to find a solution to our Healthcare crisis. Ohioans are demanding actions, not just words, and today the Ohio House took that step.” – Retherford said.

The Health Care Compact included a set of core principles, inspired by the goals of personal freedom and federalism. The principles include:

• The separation of powers, both between the branches of the federal government and between federal and state authority, is essential to the preservation of individual liberty.
• The Constitution creates a federal government of limited and enumerated powers, and reserves to the states or to the people those powers not granted to the federal government.
• The member states seek to protect individual liberty and personal control over healthcare decisions, and believe the best method to achieve these ends is by vesting regulatory authority over health care in the states

House Bill 34 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

-30-

For more information, contact Adam Landefeld in Rep. Boose’s office at (614) 466-9628 or Adam.Landefeld@ohiohouse.gov; or Nicholas Stallard in Rep. Retherford’s office at (614) 644-6721 or Nicholas.Stallard@ohiohouse.gov.

 

The Destiny of Health Care in Ohio is in Our Hands: Support the Health Care Compact (HB 34)

With the uncertainty of the health exchanges in the courts, the outcome of any ruling, even if in our favor, will not completely rid Ohio citizens from the chains of Obamacare.

As we continue our call for a full repeal of Obamacare, it is important that, when doing so, we also continue our fight for healthcare freedom in Ohio with support and passage of the Health Care Compact (HB 34).

Currently, the Health Care Compact (HB 34) is in the Ohio House State Government Committee. To read the text of HB 34, click here. To read the Legislative Services analysis of HB 34, click here.

Please contact the below GOP members of the House State Government Committee and respectfully request that they support the Health Care Compact (HB 34) and put Ohioans in charge of their own health care destiny.

With your support and immediate action, we can move one step closer to achieving our goal of true health care freedom for all Ohio citizens!

State Government Committee

Rep. Ron Maag / Chair
Phone: (614) 644-6023
Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/ron-maag/contact

Rep. Stephanie Kunze / Vice-Chair

Phone: (614) 466-8012 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/stephanie-kunze/contact

Rep. John Becker

Phone: (614) 466-8134 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/john-becker/contact

Rep. Cheryl Grossman

Phone: (614) 466-9690

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/cheryl-l-grossman/contact

Rep. Bob Hackett

Phone: (614) 466-1470 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/bob-d-hackett/contact

Rep. Ron Hood

Phone: (614) 466-1464 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/ron-hood/contact

Rep. Stephen Huffman

Phone: (614) 466-8114 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/stephen-a-huffman/contact

Rep. Sarah LaTourette

Phone: (614) 644-5088

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/sarah-latourette/contact

Rep. Rick Perales

Phone: (614) 644-6020 

Contact: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/rick-perales/contact 

State Rep. Wes Retherford & State Rep. Terry Boose introduce State-based Alternative to Obamacare in Ohio

Below is a great article explaining the Health Care Compact (HB 34) introduced in Ohio by State Rep. Wes Retherford & State Rep. Terry Boose.
Please contact your State Rep (Click Here) and ask them to support true healthcare freedom in Ohio by supporting HB 34 - the Health Care Compact.

From The Sidney Post --

If Ohio likes its Obamacare, it can keep its Obamacare – but it won’t have to if a group of state lawmakers have their way.

State Rep. Wes Retherford, Hamilton - House District 51, and Rep. Terry Boose, Norwalk – House District 57, have introduced legislation that would give Ohio greater control over federal health care programs. It’s called the Health Care Compact, and it would allow Columbus to regulate health care and provide an alternative to Obamacare.

“We’ve begun to see with Obamacare and the Veterans Administration debacles that a centralized health care system run out of Washington is destined to fail. States should be free to come up with the approach that best reflects the needs and wants of its citizens,” Retherford said. “By transferring decision-making authority, responsibility and control of federal health care funding from Washington, D.C. to Columbus, the Health Care Compact gives Ohio the option to choose a different health insurance system than Obamacare, one that actually works to meet our families’ needs.

“The Health Care Compact will shield Ohio citizens and businesses from the burdensome regulations of Obamacare, and protect our seniors from the $700 billion dollars that Obamacare cuts from Medicare to pay for Medicaid expansion and insurance subsidies,” he said.

The move to give states more say-so over health care policy is gaining momentum. The Health Care Compact has been approved by nine states — Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Utah.

“Under the Healthcare Compact we won’t have a national program. Some states could implement a single-payer system, while others push more market-oriented mechanisms. Others could choose to remain in the federal program,” Retherford said. “The Health Care Compact has only one single requirement for every state: it requires that federal health-care dollars be spent on health care, and only on health care – they cannot be siphoned off to other, non-health-care programs. After that, the citizens of Ohio and their representatives in Columbus will decide how those dollars will be spent to provide the best health care for the citizens of Ohio.”

Under the Interstate Health Care Compact, Ohio would receive annual federal funding that must be spent on health care programs within the state. Ohio’s allotment would be calculated from a baseline of 2010 federal health care spending in the state, adjusted for changes in population and inflation.

State compacts are governing tools that have been used on a number of occasions to establish agreements between and among states. Mentioned in Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution, compacts are the constitutional instruments that provide authority and flexibility to the states for administering specific programs. Congressional approval is required for states to enter into a legally binding compact.

More than 96 percent of health care is provided and consumed within a state by residents of that state. The Health Care Compact recognizes that since the lions share of health care is locally provided and locally consumed, regulating it at the state level makes more sense than mandating a single set of policies from Washington. Centralized micromanagement of a complex industry serving more than 300 million people won’t work.

“Americans are expected to spend $4 trillion on health care this year,” Retherford said. “Letting one group of bureaucrats manage that in Washington makes no sense. Each state is different — different demographics, different insurance companies, different political perspectives — so a single national solution is madness. The Interstate Health Care Compact allows for uniquely tailored, state-based solutions to health care delivery and affordability problems.

“A one-size-fits-all health care policy handed down from Washington simply does not work.

The Health Care Compact gives states decision-making authority so they can design healthcare programs that meet their unique needs and priorities,” said Shonda Werry, executive director of Competitive Governance Action, the non-profit organization that advocates for interstate compacts.

Click Here to visit the Health Care Compact Website.

Ohio Looking to be 10th State to Pass the Health Care Compact

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2015

Contact: Marianne Gaseicki
mansfieldteaparty@gmail.com

Ohio State Reps Committed to Giving Citizens Control of Their Health Care

Health Care Compact (HB 34) Introduced in Ohio House

Ohio - We would like to applaud Rep. Wes Retherford and Rep. Terry Boose for introducing the Health Care Compact (HB 34) and for remaining steadfast in their commitment to putting Ohio and its citizens in charge of their own Health Care destiny and decisions.

The Health Care Compact is the only Constitutional avenue for Ohio citizens to have a voice in their own health care decisions by providing true health care freedom. Passing the Health Care Compact will also give the Ohio legislature the legislative and fiscal freedom to make health care in Ohio truly reflective of the health care needs of our state.

With nine other states having already passed the Health Care Compact, thereby putting the health care concerns of their citizens first, we look forward to the Ohio legislature and Governor Kasich duplicating their efforts by making Ohio the tenth state to pass the Health Care Compact.

To find out more about the Health Care Compact, please go to www.healthcarecompact.org.


Ralph King

Marianne Gasiecki

State Coordinators (OH)

Tea Party Patriots

Action Alert: The Time for True Health Care Freedom in Ohio is NOW!

 Action Alert  

Now that the elections are over, it is time to get back to work on fighting for our healthcare freedom. With the election night victories by the GOP in the U.S. Senate, now that they have control, there should be no excuses on why they cannot get rid of Obamacare.

After using the often repeated refrain of "Repeal of Obamacare" & "Health Care Freedom" as a fundraising banner since the passage of Obamacare, the GOP must now make good on their promises. 

The health care system in our country was broken prior to Obamacare and Obamacare just made it worse. But even a full repeal of Obamacare will not fix the health care problem we face as a nation.

Freeing us from the chains of Obamacare is not enough - we need true health care freedom and that can only come through the Health Care Compact (HCC).

The Health Care Compact is the only Constitutional option that not only allows states to remove themselves from the chains of federal control, it empowers the member states to address the health care concerns, needs and costs at the state level regardless if Obamacare is repealed or not.

Currently at the federal level Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) has introduced the Health Care Compact (H.J. Res. 110).

Click to Enlarge

To date, nine states have joined the Health Care Compact (Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah), and legislation has either passed the state legislature or is being considered in 12 additional states.

Ohio is hoping to be the tenth state to pass the Health Care Compact with HB 227 having passed out of the OH House State & Local Government Committee and pending a full vote on the Floor of the OH House.

Having the support of 4 out of 6 in the OH House Majority Leadership, the HCC should be one of the first things on the House agenda when they return to session next week on 11/12/14.  

Passion to Action

We are asking everyone to contact your Ohio House Representative and ask that they support the Health Care Compact (HB 227) and true healthcare freedom in Ohio. 

For a county by county list of OH Rep's contact information, please click here.

Please sign the petition in support of the Health Care Compact to show Ohio legislators you support true health care freedom in Ohio. After you sign it please forward it your friends, family and social network.  To forward this post, click here.

Click to Sign the Petition

How Obamacare Premiums Are Set

The only way to Constitutionally free us from Obamacare - is through the Health Care Compact. 

When the OH House starts back in session, be on the look out for our Action Alerts regarding the Health Care Compact efforts in Ohio (HB 227). Already passed out of Committee, we will be pushing for a full vote on the House Floor.

From Heath Care Compact.Org --

Merrill Matthews of Forbes describes the push and pull behind rate setting under Obamacare. What? The rates are set for a free market? Ok, not quite, but there are some bureaucratic ‘forces’ affecting them. And here are some that Matthews discusses:

Throw away your risk tables. “Actuaries set premiums for the upcoming year based on several factors, including the estimated ratio of sick and healthy people in the pool … However, actuaries had ZERO experience with Obamacare’s “metal plans” (bronze, silver, gold and platinum), plus the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and President Obama were making up or changing the rules as they went along—and still are.”

Shoot first, ask questions later. “So if some insurers announce lower-than-expected premium increases for 2015, it may be because they overpriced policies the first time—not because Obamacare is holding costs down.”

Game the price controls. “HHS has a 10 percent red-flag cap. Under Secretary Kathleen Sebelius HHS had warned insurers that if they raised premiums more than 10 percent in one year, the agency would closely scrutinize their justifications. That’s because such increases would undermine Obama’s affordability promise.” So insurers played games like having 9% increases two yerars in a row or increasing premiums against a rainy day, knowing they could not adjust prices in the future.

Politicians and bureaucrats are pressuring insurers to keep premiums down. We saw this in Massachusetts shortly after the passage of Romneycare. Health insurers asked for a premium increase and the state rejected the request. Then Governor Deval Patrick leaned on the insurers to lower their rates, which they did—a tactic that can only work a few times before there’s no more margin to give.

Unfortunately this also forces costs up. The firms make irrational decisions based on a strategy of minimizing bureaucratic caprice. All the classic outcomes of central planning -- hoarding, shortages, misallocation -- show up in the so-called markets. There is also the tactic of putting the premium in the fine print, by loading it onto the deductible.

Obamacare premiums are so expensive that many participants are choosing very high deductible plans. Health Pocket Inc. found the average deductible for an individual in a Bronze plan was $5,081 ,and $10,386 for a family. It was $2,907 for an individual in a Silver plan, and $6,078 for a family.

Matthews says this is actually good because the real proxy price of a policy migrates to its deductible. “That’s actually a very positive step. High deductibles dramatically lower health care utilization and, just as importantly, they encourage patients to seek value for their health care dollars by making them cost-conscious and shopping around for a better price. That practice puts downward pressure on premiums.”

The result is that the premiums contain only a fraction of the price information. Cheap could mean ‘unavailable’. Expensive could be ‘unavailable’ also because it was too cheap last year. Central planning has never worked well, not even when they were not called central planning.

Health Care Compact (HB 227) Passes out of OH House Committee

From State Rep. Wes Retherford --

Health Care Compact Bill Passes From Committee, Awaits Vote In House

Proposal will give Ohio more control over costs and health care outcomes

April 02, 2014

Columbus - State Representative Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton) has announced that House Bill 227—legislation that would enter Ohio into a multi-state health care compact—has passed from the House State and Local Government Committee.

A multi-state health care compact would allow Ohio to have full control over the federal health care dollars spent within the state, which in Ohio alone would equate to $35 billion annually. 

Additionally, states within the compact have the authority to craft their own health care systems and regulations to best suit their individual needs, rather than relying on centralized control by the federal government.

“In terms of health care, I do not believe that the current ‘one size fits all’ ideology used by the federal government works,” said Rep. Retherford, who jointly sponsored House Bill 227 with State Representative Terry Boose (R-Norwalk). “Instead, I think that each state deserves to decide what is needed. Ohio knows what’s best for Ohioans. That is the bottom line and that is what we are trying to do with this bill.”

Eight states have passed health care compact legislation. The compact would go into effect with the approval of the U.S. Congress.

House Bill 227 now awaits a vote by the full House.

Action Alert: Stop Obamacare in Ohio - Calls Needed for the Health Care Compact (HB 227)

This Action Alert is for any Ohio resident who does not want the federal government controlling their health care decisions, is paying higher insurance premiums, has recently lost health insurance, can no longer use your regular doctor, has lost their job or had your work hours reduced due to the implementation of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act.

As posted here before, the Health Care Compact (HB 227) is currently in the OH House State & Local Government Committee.  The Health Care Compact was introduced by OH Rep. Wes Retherford & Rep. Terry Boose.

Proponent testimony in support of the Health Care Compact (HB 227) was given in February.  (To read the testimony click here.  Then scroll down to Feb 18, 2014, open the menu and scroll down to HB 227.)

Opponents of health care freedom in Ohio are trying to stop the Health Care Compact (HB 227) and will be giving opponent testimony in the OH House State & Local Government Committee this coming Tuesday.  It is important that we let the committee members know Ohio wants health care freedom.  

How you can help!

Please sign the petition in support of the Health Care Compact to show Ohio legislators you support true health care freedom in Ohio.  After you sign it please forward it your friends, family and social network.

Click Here To Sign Petition 

Please contact the below members of the OH House State & Local Government Committee and encourage them to support the HCC and putting Ohio residents back in control of the decision making process regarding our healthcare.

State & Local Government Committee

GOP Members

Rep. Terry Blair (R)  Chairman

Phone: (614) 466-6504 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Marlene Anielski (R) Vice-Chair

Phone: (614) 644-6041 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Richard Adams (R) Co-Sponsor

Phone: (614) 466-8114 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Terry Boose (R) Sponsor

Phone: (614) 466-9628 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Tim Brown (R)

Phone: (614) 466-8104 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Tony Burkley (R)

Phone: (614) 644-5091

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Rex Damschroder (R)

Phone: (614) 466-1374 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Cheryl Grossman (R)

Phone: (614) 466-9690 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Bob Hackett (R)

Phone: (614) 466-1470 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Brian Hill (R)

Phone: (614) 644-6014 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Ron Maag (R) Co-Sponsor

Phone: (614) 644-6023 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Ron Young (R) Co-Sponsor

Phone: (614) 644-6074 

Contact: Click Here

Democrat Members

Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D) Minority Leader

Phone: (614) 466-2004 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Ronald Gerberry (D)

Phone: (614) 466-6107 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Matt Lundy (D)

Phone: (614) 644-5076

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Bill Patmon (D)

Phone: (614) 466-7954 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. John Rogers (D)

Phone: (614) 466-7251 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Michael Sheehy (D)

Phone: (614) 466-1418 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D)

Phone: (614) 466-8030 

Contact: Click Here

Rep. Lankford (R-OK) Introduces Bill to Free States from Obamacare

Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the one bill that will give states the ability to free themselves from the chains of Obamacare - the Health Care Compact (H.J. Res. 110).  

To date, eight states have joined the Health Care Compact (Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah), and legislation has either passed the state legislature or is being considered in 12 additional states.

Interstate compacts are governing tools that have been used on more than 200 occasions to establish agreements between and among states. Mentioned in Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution, compacts are constitutional instruments that provide authority and flexibility to the states for administering government programs without federal interference. Congressional consent is required for states to enter into a legally binding compact.

Why is the Health Care Compact Important for Ohio?

In Ohio, many think or were led to believe the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment (OHCFA) completely stopped the implementation of Obamacare in Ohio.  It does not and never did.  (Click here to read text of OHCFA)

Simply put, while a good first step, the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment only stopped an Ohio resident from being forced into purchasing health insurance or from being forced into a health care system from the state or federal government. 

Due to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment passed in 2011, now only prohibits Ohio residents from being forced to purchase health insurance or from being forced into a health care program at the state level. 

Whereas any member state of the Health Care Compact, once approved by Congress, will be free from the chains of Obamacare and will be able to draft task specific health care laws that best suit their state -- without being bound by the federal constraints and mandates of ACA.

Continuing the fight against Obamacare in Ohio, Ohio Rep. Terry Boose & Rep. Wes Retherford introduced HB 227 and are hoping Ohio becomes the ninth state to pass the Health Care Compact.

From Breitbart -- 

Washington, DC—Representative James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, today introduced the House Joint Resolution legislative proposal for the Health Care Compact, a breakthrough governance reform that allows states to clean up the health care mess created by the federal government.

“The Health Care Compact is a way for states to protect their residents from the top-down, one-size-fits-all health care ‘solutions’ that have been imposed from Washington DC, including Obamacare,” said Lankford.

“The compact transfers health care decision-making authority and responsibility from the federal level to member states. Those member states are then free to implement their own health care systems without interference from federal bureaucrats, using federal health care funds already collected and spent in their state.”

To date, eight states have joined the Health Care Compact (Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah), and legislation has either passed the state legislature or is being considered in 12 additional states.

Interstate compacts are governing tools that have been used on more than 200 occasions to establish agreements between and among states. Mentioned in Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution, compacts are constitutional instruments that provide authority and flexibility to the states for administering government programs without federal interference. Congressional consent is required for states to enter into a legally binding compact.

The Health Care Compact does not conflict with efforts by state attorneys general, state legislators or Members of Congress to repeal or modify the President’s health care law.

“I still strongly support a full repeal of Obamacare. While we wait for this President and Senate Democrats to move beyond their intransigent support of this unworkable law, Congress can give interested states a way to solve their state’s health-care problems themselves. States that like their Obamacare can keep their Obamacare. The Health Care Compact simply gives a state like Oklahoma the option to create a customized system that better meets the needs of Oklahoma families.”

On average, more than 96 percent of health care is provided and consumed within a state by residents of that state. The Health Care Compact recognizes that with the lion’s share of health care being locally provided and locally consumed, regulating it at the state level makes more sense than the centralized, one-size-fits-all policies mandated from Washington. Centralized micromanagement of a complex industry serving more than 300 million people will not work.

“With $2.3 trillion spent annually and almost 3,000 pages of regulations for Medicare and Medicaid, federal management of our complex health care system has proved to be incompetent, inflexible and incomprehensible to the average American,” observed Lankford. “States already manage Medicaid, but they are burdened with thousands of pages of federal regulation, which makes the system inefficient and impersonal. The Health Care Compact moves decision-making closer to the people, freeing states to address health care innovation, increased options and affordability."

“I am proud to join the many state legislators, governors, businessmen and hard-working Americans who have worked to build support and momentum for the idea of the Health Care Compact, and I am proud to introduce the common-sense bill for this sensible solution,” concluded Lankford.

For a copy of the bill text, please click here.

Defenders of Liberty in Ohio Continue Fight against Obamacare

For Immediate Release

Contact: Marianne Gasiecki    

mansfieldteaparty@gmail.com

February 9, 2014 

Defenders of Liberty in Ohio 

Continue Fight against Obamacare

Ohio - Recently named "Defenders of Liberty" in the latest American Conservative Union rankings for state legislators in Ohio, Rep. Wes Retherford and Rep. Terry Boose  are continuing the fight against Obamacare in Ohio. 

Leading by example, as sponsors of the Health Care Compact (HB 227), which would allow Ohio to be completely and constitutionally removed from the chains of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Retherford & Boose, along with an All Star cast of Ohio conservatives, are proving they are dedicated to stopping Obamacare in Ohio, as well as looking for common sense solutions in addressing health care issues.

Due to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment passed in 2011, now only prohibits Ohio residents from being forced to purchase health insurance or from being forced into a health care program at the state level.  Becoming a member state of the Health Care Compact will give Ohio the Constitutional freedom and liberty to make common sense and fiscally sound decisions on what is best for Ohio regarding health care - without being bound by the federal constraints and mandates of ACA.

"As our country deals with the devastating effects of the so-called Affordable Care Act, many have thrown in the towel believing it is now the law of the land," stated Tea Party Patriots State Co-Coordinator Marianne Gasiecki. "We are fortunate in Ohio to have a group of legislators willing to defend our liberty and fight for true health care freedom that we can only get through the Health Care Compact." 

"All too often we hear politicians talk tough but run away at the slightest challenge. It is nice to see elected officials in Ohio such as Retherford and Boose, and those supporting the Health Care Compact, walking the walk of true Defenders of Liberty as they push on with the only way to Constitutionally remove us from the freedom sapping shackles of Obamacare," said Ralph King Tea Party Patriots State Co-coordinator.

"Because of the determination and dedication being shown by these Defenders of Liberty in Ohio we look forward to joining the other 8 states that have passed the Health Care Compact and hope that Ohio will soon be the ninth state," stated King.

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Our Path to Self-Governance: Ohio House Introduces Health Care Compact

PRESS RELEASE June 27, 2013 For Immediate Release Contact:  Marianne Gasiecki  Mansfieldteaparty@gmail.com

Health Care Compact 

Introduced in Ohio House

Our Path to Self Governance

Columbus, OH - June 27, 2013 - The Health Care Compact is an interstate compact that gives each individual state control over the federal health care dollars spent within that state, and the authority to determine the best system of health care for its citizens, without interference from the federal government.

The Health Care Compact (HB 227) was introduced into the Ohio House by co-sponsors Rep. Wes Retherford and Rep. Terry Boose Thursday morning. "We've been working very closely with Reps Retherford and Boose, as well as others, over the past few months," said Marianne Gasiecki, State Co-coordinator for Tea Party Patriots. "They asked the tough questions, and have a thorough understanding of the benefits of a long term solution like the health care compact."

The federal government has been garnering more and more centralized power. The most recent display of this power was via the, arguably, most influential agency of the federal government, the IRS. The IRS would be the agency responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the Affordable Care Act.

Ohio would be the ninth state to pass the health care compact, which must then receive a simple majority up or down vote in the US Congress. The health care compact is a critical step towards state sovereignty and self-governance, bringing accountability and the decision making process closer to the people.

To learn more about the Health Care Compact, contact Marianne Gasiecki at mansfieldteaparty@gmail.com.

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To watch a short video about the Health Care Compact, click here.