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Ericksen wants real health
care solutions to address
state’s problems
Rep. Doug Ericksen,
R-Ferndale, is urging Democrats to consider and move forward several
House Republican solutions to address the state’s health care crisis.
“Offering people health savings accounts, prioritizing all and
eliminating some health care insurance mandates, changing health
insurance state statutes, comprehensive medical malpractice reform, and
tax incentives for small employers who provide health care for their
employees are all viable solutions that address our systemic health care
problems,” said Ericksen, House Republican Floor Leader. “These concepts
have been vetted and are supported by a great cross-section of concerned
citizens and industry groups, yet none of them are being considered by
the majority party. This is a disservice to the people who are
struggling to afford or gain access to health care.”
Ericksen feels recently passed measures don’t even begin to address
Washington’s burgeoning health care problems, as House Republican
legislators attempted to improve them through amendments and rebuttals.
Their efforts were defeated.
“We’ve got to get past the mindset of the majority party that believes
suing large companies and going to Canada for prescription drugs are the
answers to our health care crisis. This distracts us from real solutions
on the table that address our challenges head-on,” said Ericksen. “We’re
seeing incremental steps toward bigger government and socialized
medicine – a system of proven failure and fewer consumer choices.”
House Republicans went across the state last year on a listening tour
and heard citizens’ concerns about their health care and its costs. From
this evolved a comprehensive Republican agenda called the “Commitment to
Washington.” This commitment includes giving control of health care back
to patients by allowing for affordable, tailored choices that work best
for them and their families.
“We’ve consistently heard from citizens that they want to be able to
control their health decisions and dollars, and that small business
owners want to provide health care to their employees,” said Ericksen.
“The current approach isn’t going to get us there and people are
starting to understand this more and more.”
Nearly 56 percent of employers cite cost as the reason they can’t offer
health care to employees. Three out of four people in Washington work
for small employers that can’t afford the rising cost of health
coverage.
House Republicans are offering the following health care reforms as part
of their legislative package:
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House Bill 1684 - This
measure would allow health insurance carriers to offer mandate-free
plans and changes community rating laws, empowering consumers to
purchase health plans that meet their needs, including Health
Savings Accounts.
-
House Bill 2904 - This
measure would retire all existing health insurance statutes, calling
for review and the Legislature to enact new statutes. A review of
the existing health insurance mandates and statutes must be done to
identify government regulations that are restricting consumer choice
and driving up health care costs.
-
House Bill 2728 - This
measure would provide a tax incentive for small employers who
provide health care for their employees.
-
House Bill 2555 - This
measure would exclude Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) sold to small
employers from community-rating laws and establish a program within
the Basic Health Plan for qualified low-income employees to receive
a subsidy to participate in HSAs offered by their employer.
-
House Bill 2556 – This
measure would require DSHS to submit a waiver to the federal
government to reform our Medicaid program by incorporating
marketplace principles, consumer choice, and personal responsibility
into the program.
-
House Bill 2295 – This
measure would advance comprehensive medical liability reform through
encouraging early settlement offers, offering joint and several
liability and preventing frivolous lawsuits.
The legislative session
began on January 9 and is scheduled to run 60 days.
For more information on Ericksen, visit:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/ericksen.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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