State Senate approves health insurance oversight bill

MADISON — The state Senate has scaled back a bill that would give the Legislature's budget committee control of the state's health insurance program in hopes of avoiding Gov. Scott Walker's veto.

The bill would have given the Joint Finance Committee oversight of the Group Health Insurance Program, which covers thousands of state and local public workers. The finance committee's leaders have said they want oversight as the program's board considers moving to a self-insurance model. They say that change could have huge ramifications on the state's insurance markets.

Walker says the Legislature's employment committee already oversees the program and more oversight would cause delays.

The Senate amended the bill Friday to give the finance committee oversight only of a self-insurance contract and passed the measure unanimously. It now goes to the Assembly.