Board passes resolution on federal health care law

With a vote of 6-2, Prince William supervisors Tuesday passed a resolution that directs staff to find out how much new federal health care regulations will cost the county.

The resolution also requires staff to report these costs to the board and to alert state and federal authorities if there's a problem -- that is, if the regulations amount to unfunded mandates that will require supervisors to raise taxes or cut essential services.

Supervisors John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, and Frank Principi, D-Woodbridge, voted against the measure after attempts to amend the document -- to set up a committee to study the issue and to direct staff to research and report on tax-saving benefits of the federal health care plan -- failed.

The actual resolution that passed is a watered-down version of what was originally proposed, and is in not a call to opt-out of the federal health care plan. It does not support, or even mention, the state's lawsuit against the federal law, either. Rather, the resolution, which is available online at the county government's website, www.pwcgov.org, is a directive to staff.

"Prince William County will honor state and federal law, but is concerned that the [federal law] will place a significant new financial burden on localities in the near future," the resolution states. "Therefore, be it resolved, [the board] requests that the Department of Social Services, assisted by county staff … estimate the additional population eligible for Medicaid … and the additional financial burden to the county taxpayers for additional administration of benefits."

Financial burdens that bring more taxes for county residents should be reported to state and federal officials, the resolution continues.

The resolution also seeks input from private health care providers to estimate the Medicaid population and costs from these new federal mandates.

Finally, the measure directs the county executive to estimate the costs of the federal plan on the county's own health insurance plan, and "provide comment to the federal government … to ensure that the impacts on local governments … are fully articulated," states the resolution.

The resolution, said Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At-large, will help the county's voice be heard at the federal level, at the same time the health care regulations are being developed.

"Right now, there are people meeting to draw up the new regulations they will implement. You need to be in the on the ground floor if you want to have any impact on how those regulations are going to be drawn," he said. "You need to make your comments as soon as possible."

County attorney Angela Lemmon Horan asserted the resolution that passed was lawful and did not constitute a challenge to federal law.

Staff writer Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at 703-530-3903.