Reforming health care legislative priority.

Health care reform was hot in legislatures across the nation in 2006 and the forecast for this session may be even hotter. Fueled by the increasing number of uninsured Americans, the declining number of employers offering insurance to their employees, the improved fiscal conditions in the states and the lack of federal action, states are leading the way in health care reform.

Massachusetts and Vermont passed laws in 2006 to achieve universal (or nearly universal) coverage as well as addressing cost and quality. The new program in Massachusetts requires people to have health insurance by July 2007. Vermont's law, which includes access to subsidized or lower cost insurance, relies on voluntary participation. Covering all uninsured kids is the goal of Illinois' All Kids program that began July 1, 2006. Pennsylvania followed Illinois' lead expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Other states adopted more incremental reforms to focus on the eight in 10 uninsured Americans in working families--many of whom work for small businesses that cannot afford coverage. Arkansas, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Tennessee are among the states with new laws and programs to reduce the cost of insurance for small employers.

At least seven states last year targeted coverage for young adults--the fastest growing segment of the uninsured population. These laws allow young people, who otherwise would be dropped from coverage at age 19, to remain covered on their parent's policy regardless of their enrollment in school.

Health reform will remain a priority this year. Several states--including Illinois, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico and Washington--have commissions charged with creating recommendations for expanding coverage and reforming health care. Political leadership in other states including California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Minnesota, New Jersey and Wisconsin are poised to act in 2007.