Q: What challenges do you anticipate your particular state running into with upcoming health care reform provisions?
AH: The approach I am taking is to analyze the federal law and limit our statutory changes in North Dakota to those that are necessary to maintain the clear authority of the North Dakota Insurance Department. Given the current political climate in our state and that our legislature only meets every two years, state legislators are not interested in putting our state in a position that could not be changed if additional federal legislation is passed altering existing reforms. Many of the market reforms, as well as the exchange, demand physical and financial resources in upcoming years that state leaders are meeting with very critical eyes
Q: For producers licensed to sell health insurance in your state, what developments might they look out for?
AH: This is a matter I care deeply about. I have already met with the producer associations in the state to discuss key issues related to health care reform, and I cosponsored a resolution to protect the ability of licensed insurance professionals to continue to serve the public. It is my belief that health insurance producers play a unique and valuable role in the sale of health insurance. It would be difficult for me to envision a future market in North Dakota that would not allow them to help consumers and businesses choose health insurance.
Q: What should producers concentrate on the most over the next 10 years with regard to health care reform's affects in North Dakota?
AH: My hope is that producers continue to stay involved in state and national level discussions. Focusing on articulating the added value they bring to insurance decisions every day is key to proving that they deserve a piece of the pie when it comes to selling health insurance in the future. The producer groups in North Dakota are very active, and I'm lucky that we have a very positive and open discourse on these issues.
Q: Is your state doing anything differently or preparing in any special way for health care reform?
AH: My staff and I have been working on health care reform since the first proposals were floated on the national level. Asked to report to an interim legislative committee eight times since August 2009, we have spent countless hours in external and internal discussions gauging the impact on North Dakota and strategies to best serve our citizens. With so many unknowns still to be sorted out, it is challenging to nail down any specifics. We have requested additional resources in my department to ensure that we can maintain the high level of consumer protection and services we currently offer to our citizens and to the insurance industry in our state.
Adam W. Hamm was appointed insurance commissioner in October 2007 and was elected to a four-year term in November 2008. He brings a strong and varied background to the office that includes experience both in public service and in the private sector.
For more health insurance coverage, visit ASJonline.com's Health Insurance Resource Center.
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North Dakota Facts At-A-Glance
| North Dakota | United States | |
| Demographics | ||
| Total population | 626,200 | 303,343,300 |
| Median annual income | $49,450 | $49,945 |
| Health costs and budget | ||
| Health spending per capita | $5,808 | $5,283 (by state of residence) |
| Average employee contribution for family premium (% of total premium) | 28% | 27% |
| Health coverage | ||
| Uninsured population (% of total population) | 11% | 17% |
| Uninsured children (% of children) | 7% | 10% |
| Medicaid enrollment (% of total population) | 11% | 19% |
| Medicare enrollment (% of total population) | 17% | 15% |
| Monthly CHIP enrollment, June 2009 | 4,644 | 4,966,030 |
| Health status | ||
| Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) | 5.9 | 6.8 |
| Teen death rate (per 100,000 population) | 89 | 62 |
| AIDS diagnosis rate (per 100,000 population) | 2.4 | 12.3 |
| Overweight or obese children (% of children) | 25.7% | 31.6% |
| Adults who visited the dentist/clinic (% of adults) | 74.0% | 71.3% |
| Adults with disabilities (% of adults) | 10.9% | 12.1% |
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts
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