Bill barring state-licensed insurers from operating in health exchanges fails

Friday, March 29, 2013

photo Rep. Vance Dennis, R-Savannah
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - A bill banning Tennessee-licensed insurers from participating in a federally operated health care exchange failed this week in the Senate Commerce Committee after getting just one vote.

Only the bill's sponsor, Sen. Dorlores Gresham, R-Somerville, voted for it. Two Democrats voted no while four Republican senators, including Bo Watson of Hixson and Ken Yager of Harriman abstained.

The bill, opposed by insurers like Chattanooga-based BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, last week passed a House subcommittee on a 6-2 vote as the sponsor, Rep. Vance Dennis, R-Savannah, declared he had found the "Achilles heel" of Obamacare.

Senators took a dimmer view.

Dennis claimed the bill would prevent insurers from operating on the exchange, an online marketplace where consumers would be able to easily compare plans and prices offered by various insurers.

State Attorney General Bob Cooper said federal law would supercede its impact on out-of-state companies but said it could hurt Tennessee-based companies like BlueCross.