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Ericksen discusses health
care solutions
with standing-room only crowd
Over 200 people attend town hall to
express
their views on health care debate
Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale,
gathered Monday before a
standing-room only crowd to share his solutions to the hotly-debated health care issue that has taken hold of the nation.
The audience at St.
Luke's Community Health Education Center in Bellingham was respectful
and open to hearing all viewpoints.
"I was impressed with the turnout and the
dialogue that evolved," said Ericksen, who serves as ranking
Republican of the House Health Care Committee. "People with views on
both sides of the debate shared their opinions about this important
issue. There were passionate speeches from both perspectives."
Ericksen said the vast
majority of people expressed their opposition to a single-payer,
government-run health care system, however, when differing views were
expressed the crowd was respectful at all times.
"I believe the meeting
represents one of the most critical components of the legislative
process. I was able to highlight my solutions to creating a more
affordable, accessible health care system, and the citizens I represent
had the opportunity to provide feedback on those proposals," said
Ericksen.
"It is important to
remember that 89 percent of Washingtonians have health insurance and
more than 80 percent of people are happy with their coverage," said
Ericksen. "We need to find a way to help those folks who fall into the
11 percent who aren't covered."
Ericksen said that
approximately 50 percent of the uninsured are between the ages of 19 and
34. His proposal would allow flexibility and affordability to meet the
needs of this age group.
Ericksen's health care
proposal would:
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Allow citizens to
purchase a variety of health care plans from other states;
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Provide choices for
small employers that include affordable core benefit plans that
would control costs;
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Provide cost-effective
plans that meet the needs and budgets of young adults, ages 19 to
34;
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Implement comprehensive medical
malpractice and tort reforms;
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Provide state employees with a Health
Savings Account voucher option;
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Encourage and incentivize health care
innovation by repealing the certificate of need;
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Allow core benefit plans which provide
citizens a choice of plans with various levels of benefits;
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Would lower taxes on health care plans
and provide a tax credit for small employers and self-employed
individuals for providing insurance; and
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Introduce a state constitutional
amendment to protect the rights of Washingtonians to make their own
health care choices;
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Reform the Basic Health Plan to
strengthen the safety for those that need it.
"Our plan
would provide solutions to
lower health care costs, increase access to quality care and provide choice
in a variety of health insurance options," said Ericksen. "At the same
time it would strengthen the state's safety
net for the needy, the common denominator in the entire plan is it would
empower people to make more of their own health care insurance
decisions."
Ericksen's health care
solutions for a better Washington can be found at his legislative Web
site at:
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Ericksen/
For more
information, Rep. Ericksen
can be contacted at (360) 786-7980 or
ericksen.doug@leg.wa.gov
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Communications Director | (360) 786-5758
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