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Condotta
applauds decision to increase state
employee health insurance contributions
Lawmaker says more choices,
flexibility should also be included in health care options
Despite protests by labor unions about the Washington Health Care
Authority's (HCA) decision to
increase
state employee contributions to their health care plans,
Rep. Cary Condotta says it reflects the reality in
the private market.
"The debate about the cost of health insurance is finally moving in the
right direction in Washington state," said Condotta, R-East Wenatchee.
"Health Care Authority Administrator Steve Hill made a great decision
recently to raise the deductibles and
co-pays for state employee health care plans. This is the kind of gutsy decision-making
Olympia needs right now. More bold action like this may keep us from
following California over the financial cliff. On the heels of the Legislature's
refusal to be blackmailed by public unions, the HCA finally stepped up and faced
the reality that public employee health insurance plans
should mimic costs in private company plans."
The only way to reduce health care costs is to ensure individuals know
the true cost of care and
incentivize healthy choices, Condotta added. He also believes there is value in
allowing employees more choices, such as the ability to participate in the true cost of health care through Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
"Let's get back to true insurance instead of prepaid health care. It
worked before and it will work again," said Condotta. "Now if we could
just make Health Savings Accounts available to all state employees, as
is required under House Bill 1383 signed into law in 2006. This type of
option could actually reduce costs and premiums for all plans. Now is
the time for bold action to reverse the perverse cost increases in health
care caused by low deductibles and co-pays. Steve Hill and the board
have taken the first step, now let's get the HSA option in place and
watch health care costs decline and people's health improve
accordingly."
House Bill 1383, which requires the state to offer all public employees
the option of an HSA, was
introduced by Condotta and passed in both chambers, then signed into
law by the governor. HSAs,
authorized as part of the Medicare bill of 2003, are savings accounts
individuals and families own and can use to pay for health care
expenses. HSAs are coupled with a high-deductible health insurance plan
and employers may deposit a portion of the money formerly spent on an
employee’s health care premiums into the HSA. The account can be used by
the employee to pay for health expenses, including meeting their
deductibles, co-pays and prescription costs.
Despite the law requiring HSAs be offered as part of state employees'
health insurance options, the Health Care Authority has refused to allow
state employees the choice.
"As a small-business owner on the front lines of how to best serve the
hard-working employees at my shop, I know both public and private
employers must provide options, such as HSAs, as well as traditional
plans to staff. But, that choice should be left to the employee, not a
government bureaucrat," said Condotta.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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