A provision in the health care reform bill approved in the House of Representatives could force farmers to provide health insurance coverage for seasonal temporary workers.

That is one of the reasons that the Virginia Farm Bureau, which has more than 3,000 members in Franklin County, opposes the health care reform legislation.

As the debate over the details of the legislation moves to the floor of the U. S. Senate this week, Farm Bureau members are mobilizing to oppose it.

The Farm Bureau has nearly 150,000 members in 88 Virginia counties, including 3,300 members in Franklin County.

“Health care reform in its current state will have a huge negative impact on the cost, quality and availability of the health insurance that farmers purchase for themselves, their families and the workers they employ,” said Trey Davis, political education and legislative specialist for the Farm Bureau.

The legislation will cost the United States $1 trillion, and reports show that it will increase the average premium for Americans and small businesses that choose to participate in the government-run program, Davis said.

“We oppose a public option that would harm individual businesses and increase the current cost of private insurance plans than many farmers purchase,” he said.

“A government-run program that will reimburse hospitals and physicians at lower costs will put rural healthcare facilities and doctors out of business,” Davis added.

Farm Bureau members are sharing their concerns with Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner.

“Changes are coming to America’s health care system, and all voters need to be better informed on the options being debated,” said Greg Hicks, communications director for the Farm Bureau.

“In this case, Farm Bureau opposes the current legislation, but many times we support bills and legislative issues, so this is one more way we hope the voice of our producer members will be heard,”?Hicks said.