IBNL reopens debate on SB2160 to consider ending ‘grandfathered’ state health plan

Representative Koppelman moved and the Industry, Business and Labor Committee approved a motion to reconsider its earlier action on Senate Bill 2160, reopening discussion of a measure that would remove the state employee health plan’s “grandfathered” status and require coverage that mirrors Affordable Care Act benefits.

The motion to reconsider was made by Representative Koppelman and seconded by Representative Casper; the committee carried the motion by voice vote. The committee then heard about a half hour of testimony and questions from lawmakers and staff but did not take a final vote on SB2160 at this meeting.

Why the committee reopened the bill: Representative Koppelman said he had missed part of the prior hearing and, after reviewing additional material, wanted the committee to reexamine the measure. “I’ll move that we reconsider our actions on senate bill 2,160 and I was absent,” Koppelman said when making the motion. Senator Kyle Davidson, sponsor of SB2160, told the committee the bill would expand benefits for state employees and cited a Deloitte actuarial fiscal estimate the committee was using for its discussions. “We know that state employees are gonna get $27,000,000 more in benefits over the next biennium,” Senator Davidson said, describing that figure as the actuary’s projected increase tied to adopting ACA-style benefits.

What th…