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Bailey
urges committee to approve health
cost investigation
Legislation would provide
study to determine cost
drivers of health insurance
Why is health insurance so
expensive in Washington? That's a question
Rep.
Barbara Bailey wants answered. Today Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, asked
the House Health and Wellness Committee to approve legislation she has
introduced to find some answers.
House Bill 1538 would direct the Office of the Insurance
Commissioner to contract for an independent study of the state's
insurance regulations. The study would investigate specific health
benefit mandates, rating requirements, and other rules and laws
identified by insurance carriers as contributing most to the cost of
health insurance.
"This is something I've
wanted to accomplish for quite some time. For several sessions, I've
sponsored bills to study our health insurance laws. I think this
legislation is a good step forward and will shine a bright light on our
health insurance costs," said Bailey. "Part of this bill requires health
insurance carriers to identify those areas which they see as driving
costs. Hopefully we can accomplish this study and get to the heart of
the matter to determine what is driving up the cost of health insurance
in Washington."
Bailey said the study
would also seek to determine the impact on premiums and individuals'
health if statutes or rules identified as cost drivers were amended or
repealed.
"Everybody knows that
health insurance costs are high in Washington. However, until we study
what's causing the insurance costs to be so high as compared to other
states, we will never be able to knowledgably address this issue. That's
why I've long supported a study. And this year, the legislation has the
backing of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care because
its language comes directly from the commission's recommendations," said
Bailey.
"At the very least, the
study will give us an indication as to what we can do to lower costs,"
added Bailey. "It also would provide accountability to the citizens who
continue to ask why health insurance is so expensive. Right now, we
can't give them an answer. This study will try to provide some answers."
The bill would require the
Office of the Insurance Commissioner to submit an interim report to the
governor and appropriate legislative committees by Dec. 1, 2007. A final
report would be due Dec. 1, 2008.
The committee could take
action on the bill within the next week.
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For more information, contact: John
Sattgast, Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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