Access to Health Care: States Respond to Growing Crisis
HRD-92-70
Published: Jun 16, 1992. Publicly Released: Jul 13, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on state initiatives concerning health care access and affordability, and federal barriers which limit states' progress toward achieving universal health care.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If Congress wants to give states more flexibility to develop comprehensive reforms, it should consider whether to amend ERISA so that the Department of Labor can give states a limited waiver from the ERISA preemption clause in order to develop innovative approaches to employer-based health insurance. Congress could define minimum standards--governing such factors as benefits packages, extent of coverage, and terms under which the waiver might be revoked--that a state must meet to receive and maintain such a waiver. | States are no longer undertaking the types of comprehensive health care reform that would require ERISA exemptions. Additionally, Congress is considering taking an alternate approach of strengthening federal standards for employer-based health plans under ERISA rather than granting states more authority to regulate employer-based health plans. |
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Topics
Access to health careEmployee medical benefitsstate relationsHealth care cost controlHealth care programsHealth care servicesHealth insuranceHealth insurance cost controlMedicaidMedicareState-administered programsMedically uninsured