BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Bob Taft, the Republican candidate for governor, called Thursday for three new tax deductions designed to help the uninsured pay for their health care.
Campaign aides said the proposals would cost the state budget $45 million annually, once fully implemented, and said the changes would be funded by reprioritizing the budget.
"It's time to offer financial relief to Ohio families so they can obtain the quality health care they need," Mr. Taft said in a written statement that billed the proposal as "Part Two" of his plan to give consumers more clout in the health care system.
Part One, released last week during a press conference, endorsed most of his chief rival's plan that calls for allowing patients to sue HMOs, creating an independent panel to hear appeals when HMOs have denied coverage and allowing patients to pick their own doctors.
Part Two was issued via press release Thursday.
"At least now I understand why he didn't have a press conference," said Alan Melamed, campaign chairman for Lee Fisher, the Democratic nominee for governor. "He wants to increase the cost without figuring out how he's going to pay for it."
He said one key aspect of the Fisher plan that Mr. Taft did not endorse is aimed at curbing waste and fraud in HMOs. "Protecting whistleblowers and rewarding citizens who uncover abuse is a big part of our plan," Mr. Melamed said.
Another difference, he said, is Mr. Taft's call to have disputes over the denial of care resolved within 14 days. Mr. Fisher, however, called for a three-day turnaround, but only in life-threatening cases.
"A tremendous bureaucracy would have to be created to handle the most minor appeals in 14 days," Mr. Melamed said. "It sounds good, but they won't say how to pay for it."
Taft campaign spokesman Brett Buerck said that the tax deductions and 14-day appeal process could be funded with existing resources. The tax relief would be phased in over a yet-to-be-determined time period, he said, but would be fully implemented by the end of the next governor's four-year term.
The plan would:
Allow uninsured people who buy coverage to deduct the full costs of that insurance from their state income taxes. The deductions could be used only by people who do not have coverage through an employer-sponsored plan, are not self-employed or earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Phase in full state income tax deductibility for medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of a person's incomes. The deduction would mirror one already available for federal income tax purposes.
Allow those who buy long-term care insurance to deduct the full cost of their premiums from their state income taxes.
