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Concerns over health care
access results in lawmaker’s
opposition to bill
A bill designed to expand
services covered under health insurance plans in Washington will
actually result in fewer people being covered, according to a state
lawmaker who voted against the measure today. House Bill 1154, known as
the mental health parity bill, would require health insurance plans
offered in Washington to include mental health services.
Rep. Doug Ericksen,
R-Ferndale, said the effect of the bill is the equivalent of loading
more people onto a sinking ship. He said Washington needs fewer mandates
on health coverage, not more.
“With each new mandate we
add to health insurance in this state, we drive up the cost. And every
time we drive up the cost, there are fewer people who can afford it. So
as we expand services for some, there are others who end up with no
basic coverage at all,” he said. “I think the mental health coverage is
something we should talk about, but it should be a larger discussion
about the dozens of mandates that have been placed on our health care
system that are driving up costs and putting coverage out of reach for
many families and employers."
Ericksen also noted that a
large share of the Whatcom County workforce will be left out of the
expanded health plan. The bill exempts employers with fewer than 50
employees.
“You could have two
workers with the same health plan, but one has mental health coverage
and the other doesn’t because they work for a small business,” Ericksen
explained. “That’s not what I’d call parity.”
Ericksen said he also supported several amendments to the bill that were
defeated today. Republicans in the House offered changes to control
costs to employers and prevent large increases in premiums.
HB 1154 was approved by a
vote of 67-25 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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