OPM Nominee in Limbo Until Senator Gets Answers on Health Reform
By Kellie Lunney
July 31, 2013 - Government Executive
A Republican senator is blocking the White Housefs pick to lead the Office
of Personnel Management in an effort to force the Obama administration to
provide more information on how health care reform will affect congressional
staffers.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the
nomination of Katherine Archuleta as OPM director, but Ranking Member Tom
Coburn, R-Okla., said he would place a hold on the nomination, which prevents
the full Senate from considering it. Coburn, who opposed Archuleta during the
committee vote, is blocking her nomination guntil OPM gives us the decision on
our employeesf health insurance. That decision hasnft been decided; itfs gone to
OPM and [the Office of Management and Budget] and back, and therefs no reason we
should vote on this position until we know what the administrationfs position is
for our employeesf health insurance starting Oct. 1,h Coburn said during
Wednesdayfs markup.
Any senator can put a hold on a nominee. A hold can be lifted by the
lawmaker blocking the nomination, or with 60 votes.
The 2010 Affordable Care Act requires lawmakers
and congressional aides in personal offices to drop their insurance coverage
in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and enter the newly created
exchange market beginning Oct. 1. The provision,
as currently interpreted, does not affect members of Congress or staffers who
have Medicare, committee aides or staffers in leadership offices. The law
defines congressional staffers as gfull-time and part-time employees employed by
the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, D.C., or
outside of Washington, D.C.h OPM, however, has not yet issued guidance on how to
implement that part of the law.
Currently, the federal government covers about 70 percent of health care
premium costs for lawmakers and their aides. It is unclear what percent, if any,
the government will cover when the legislative branch moves to the exchange
market. FEHBP provides health care benefits to 8.2 million federal employees,
retirees and their dependents.
OPM said it hoped to issue a proposed rule on implementing the law for
members of Congress and staff in October, according to a July
29 report in The New York Times. The initial open enrollment for
plans offered through the exchanges starts Oct. 1, 2013, for coverage beginning
in January 2014.
The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Coburnfs
hold.
Coburn called the provision in the current law ga gutting of our own staff
because someone was trying to make a political point.h A June
13 report in Politico said the impending health care switch could
affect retention. gDozens of lawmakers and aides are so afraid that their health
insurance premiums will skyrocket next year thanks to Obamacare that they are
thinking about retiring early or just quitting,h said the article.
Under the Affordable Care Act, private health insurers that participate in
the multi-state plan program on the exchanges will contract with OPM, the agency
responsible for administering FEHBP. Providers must offer at least two
multi-state plans on each of the exchanges in the 50 states and the District of
Columbia. The law allows companies to phase in their coverage in all states and
D.C. over four years, though they must offer coverage in at least 31 states in
the first year of participation.
At Wednesdayfs markup, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., praised Archuleta for her
gconfidence and drive,h as well as her experience with managing people and
personnel processes. But he also admitted to being underwhelmed by her during an
initial meeting. gI will tell you this, as a sidebar, when she first came into
my office and interviewed with me, I was not impressed,h Tester told his
colleagues. gBut I can tell you in my conversations since and during the
hearing, I was very impressed. I think in this position, and itfs a very
important position as we all know, I think she will do a fine job,h said Tester,
adding gI understand what Sen. Coburn wants, and hopefully he will get the
information very soon and we can move forward with her nomination
confirmation.h
Lawmakers quizzed Archuleta during her confirmation hearing earlier this
month on a range
of topics including OPMfs role in implementing the Affordable Care Act,
improving the security clearance process and assessing the cost of official time
for federal employees participating in union activities.
Archuleta said she would draw on OPM officialsf expertise to stand up the multi-state
plan program under the health care reform law -- arguably one of the
agencyfs most pressing tasks at the moment.
By Kellie Lunney
July 31, 2013
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/07/opm-nominee-limbo-until-senator-gets-answers-health-reform/67817/