Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.) introduced a bill today that would give states the ability to opt out of different aspects of healthcare reform.
The junior Massachusetts Senator’s legislation included a provision that would exempt states from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s requirement for every U.S. citizen to get health insurance.
The bill, which Brown co-filed with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), would only allow states to opt out of the individual mandate if their own insurance plan is as competitive and affordable and covers as many residents as the federally administered plan would.
In a speech on the Senate floor this morning, Brown said the bill’s changes to the healthcare reform law would be good for Massachusetts, which already has an individual mandate, and that the bill is supported by the Mass. Hospital Assn.
"[The changes] are good for other states who are trying to innovate and advance in the areas of healthcare reform, cost containment, and coverage," he said.
This is not the first time Brown has attempted to reach across the aisle. Shortly after the Bay State elected Brown in a special election in January to replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, Brown angered fellow Republicans and Tea Party members with his support of financial reforms aimed at Wall Street.
A call to Brown’s office seeking comment was not returned.
