Stateline Vol. 26, No. 5 • May 2017 MidwestTHE MIDWESTERN OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS INSIDE CSG Midwest Issue Briefs 2-3 Shoring up health exchanges • Criminal Justice & Public Safety: Illinois opens up professional licensing for ex-offenders • Agriculture & Natural Resources: Minnesota Premium hikes in 2017 led Minnesota to intervene with tax credit provides relief to farmers, help to schools • Passenger Rail: State, federal officials crafting funding for subsidies, reinsurance; all states face uncertainty plan for better intercity service in Midwest • Education: Indiana reduces class time spent on by Jon Davis (
[email protected]) assessments, expands graduation pathways Around the Region 4 ast summer, as insurers filed their % change in Midwest health What happened? individual health insurance plan rate South Dakota at forefront of national effort to ‘kill insurance premiums for 2017 premiums for 2017, it became clear In 2014, as a central part of providing Quill,’ collect taxes from remote sales L that something was wrong: Rates in 31 coverage through the U.S. Affordable 7% MLC Chair’s Initiative 5 states shot up by double digits (triple Care Act of 2010, health insurance 59% exchanges opened up across the country Uptick in maternal death rates leads to new digits for Arizona); overall, the average 39% 16% — either run by states themselves, the Michigan law, proposal in U.S. Congress increase in premiums was 25 percent. 7% federal government or a combination In the Midwest, Minnesota was socked 51% 25% 2% of the two. Question of the Month 5 with a 59 percent increase that fur- 43% -3% Which Midwestern states impose additional or ther roiled an already shaky individual Because these exchanges created a special registration fees on electric vehicles? 42% health insurance market (or exchange).