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Bailey appointed ranking
Republican on House
Health Care Committee
Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak
Harbor, today assumes the number one Republican position on the House
Health Care Committee. House Republican leader, Richard DeBolt,
appointed her on this, the first day of the 2004 legislative session.
Health care continues to be a top priority for Bailey, who was serving
as the Assistant Ranking Republican on the committee.
“I strongly believe there is something we can do about the health care
crisis during this legislative session to make coverage more affordable
and accessible,” said Bailey.
She notes that health care costs are skyrocketing and while the vast
majority of people have health care coverage, the cost of that coverage
is creating a crisis.
“Washington families, especially in rural areas, are losing access to
health care services,” Bailey continued.
She added that escalating
medical malpractice premiums are forcing doctors to leave our
communities and prompting health care providers to close their doors or
limit the services they offer.
“A health care tour I
conducted last fall reinforces this and points to the ‘local’ crisis in
so many of our communities across the state,” continued Bailey. “As the
ranking Republican on the House Health Care Committee, I’ll support
legislation designed to remove government mandates and give employers
greater flexibility to offer affordable basic health coverage for
working families. It’s through this committee that meaningful reforms
will find their legs and move forward to what will hopefully result in
action by the full Legislature and ultimately the governor.”
Bailey believes 2004 is
the year liability reforms must also be enacted to control the
escalating cost of medical malpractice insurance. She offers some
critical statistics:
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The Washington State
Medical Association reported a 31 percent increase in the number of
its physician members moving out of state.
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Nineteen percent of
Washington State Medical Association members said they have stopped
practicing obstetrics and another 8 percent said they planned to do
the same in the near future.
Reducing costly state
mandates and eliminating the stranglehold of our legal system on health
care providers, Bailey continues, will help us offer families access to
more affordable health care services.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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