"Our package is split into two categories, recognizing that we're dealing with two related but separate challenges," Rep. Short said. "We want to help the uninsured get access to healthcare coverage."

State Rep. Dan Short addressed a crowd at a Leislative Hall press conference to unveil a package of healthcare proposals.

Comparing the vexing issues connected to the delivery of affordable healthcare to the pieces of an intricate puzzle, State Rep. Dan Short and several colleagues have unveiled a package of proposals aimed at putting some of those pieces together.

"There is no easy fix to get everyone affordable healthcare, but there are things we can do to move us closer to that goal,' Rep. Short said. "This package is intended to attack different aspects of the problem."

The package includes seven new proposals. Rep. Short said he is also calling for passage of two bills previously introduced by other legislators.

"Our package is split into two categories, recognizing that we're dealing with two related, but separate challenges," Rep. Short said. "We want to help the uninsured get access to healthcare coverage, but we also need to help those who currently have insurance retain it."

Rep. Short said one common sense measure he's sponsoring will require health insurance companies operating in Delaware to offer a "skinny" healthcare policy, stripped of all state mandates. " The irony of obligating healthcare companies to offer a plan free of the nearly three dozen mandates the state requires is not lost on me," Rep. Short said. He added that while many customers will want the coverage provided by the mandates, others will not and they should be given that option.

Although it is not yet clear how much money skinny policies could potentially save Delawareans, at least one study indicates it could be significant. According to the Galen Institute--a nonprofit researach organization based in Alexandria, VA --state mandates range from a low of 14 in Idaho to 63 in Minnesota. "In the 10 states with the greatest number of mandates, it costs a family about $2,100 more a year to purchase insurance than it does in the 10 states with the fewest," said Grace-Marie Turner, the organization's president.

The package also includes changes to Delaware law that should streamline the pricing of healthcare plans and improve healthcare administration. "One of these changes is designed to encourage the transition of high-risk customers out of the small group market and into indvidual plans," said State Rep.Donna Stone, the chair of the House Economic Development, Banking and Insurance Committee. "Not only could this potentially reduce the rates for the remaining participants, it could lead to lower rates for the high-risk people through the creation of a state-subsidized high-risk pool that would be created in conjunction with these Chapter 73 revisions," she said.

Another proposal calls for a state tax credit to help small business owners retain the healthcare they've purchased for themselves and their families. "This is intended mainly to help modest small businesses, many of which are literally "mom and pop" operations," said State Rep. Deborah Hudson, the chair of the HOuse Revenue and Finance Committee. "One thing we have heard repeatedly from small business people is that they need help to retain the healthcare plans they have. They're also telling us that they have avoided or delayed hirings and purchases of equipment because they needed the money to pay for insurance. I see this bill being as much about economic development as I do about battling the rising cost of healthcare."

The thing I like about the tax credit is that it clean and efficent, "Rep. Short said. "Every dollar spent is a dollar that is applied directly to reduce healthcare costs. There is no money wasteed in setting up a new state bureaucracy or creating new processes."

The package also includes a number of proposals aimed at increasing enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Two of these initiatives have already been introduced. Senate Bill 200 seeks to eliminate premium payments for families that have children enrolled in the SCHIP program, while House Bill 286 calls for using school lunch program data to increase outreach and entrollment of SCHIP eligible families.

"Both SB 200 and HB 286 are excellent proposals," Rep. Short said. "The bulk of the SCHIP program is paid with federal money, so it's cost effective for state taxpayers. But, at any one time, there are thousands of people that are eligible for the program that are not enrolled in it. There are also many families that join only long enough to get assitance then drop out again. These proposals should combat both of these issues."

State Rep. Pam Maier, the prime sponsor of HB 286, said she welcomes the proposed companion bill unveiled as part of the package. That bill, which has not yet been numbered, will enlist the help of the Division of Revenue in identifying eligible families. "It's my understanding that the division, aside from needing some modest resources to carry this out, does not foresee any significant problem with implementing this. I think it will compliment what we've proposed in HB 286 and holds the promise of expanding outreach efforts to our neediest families."

Although the process has not yet been fully devised, the new bill will likely call for the Division of Revenue to screen its family income data for Delawareans that may have an opportunity to enroll their children in SCHIP. Once the determinations are made, the division would likely include a notification on one of its regular tax mailings indicating that the family was potentially SCHIP-eligible and including information on who they could contact to get additional details.

The final piece of the package seeks to create a task force to craft a pilot program to establish two in-hospital urgent care facilities. The goal will be to reduce the number of people using emergency rooms for non-emergency treatment by diverting these patients to the urgent care center. "This approach would save money for hospital, taxpayers and ratepayers," said State Rep. Joe Booth. "Under federal law, hospitals cannot turn away anyone who comes into an emergency room. This has led some uninsured people to the emergency rooms for non-emergency medical treatment. Emergency room costs are much higher than traditional care and the hospital, the government and insurers all pay for these unrecovered expenses. Helping to keep emergency rooms tasked to help those that need immediate attention will pay dividends for everyone, especially those people seeking treatment."

We're introducing this package with the full knowledge that it doesn't fully fix all the issues we have with the delivery of affordable healthcare," Rep. Short said. "Having said that, we think that these bills do move the ball down the field. I'd also like to see this package gain Democrat and Republican sponsorship in both chambers. There is nothing partisan about the need to make healthcare accessible."

Rep. Short noted the existing bills that are part of this package - House Bill 286 and Senate Bill 200 - are already bipartisan measures, with both House and Senate sponsorship.