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Hinkle commends Senate for
passing true health care reform
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, Republican leader on the House Health Care
Committee, praised the Senate for passing House Bill 2572 yesterday with
amendments that make it true health care reform and beneficial to
consumers. The amendments were introduced by Senate Republicans and
mirrored amendments House Republicans tried to attach to the original
version of the bill in the House.
“This was a banner day for us,” said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. “We now have
real help for small employers with the Senate’s version of this bill. It
passed subsidies for the Basic Health Plan, but it’s also included real
small group reform, and tax incentives. That will make it easier for
small businesses to offer health care to employees. It’s everything we
wanted when the bill was in the House. I commend the Senate Republicans
for their work on this.”
Sens. Linda Parlette and Alex Deccio introduced amendments to E2SHB 2572
that were accepted by the majority, with the final vote tally 42-5.
Deccio’s amendment provides subsidies for individuals who have health
savings accounts (HSAs). Parlette’s amendments instituted small group
reform and allowed health insurers to offer a mandate-free plan,
provided a tax incentive for small employers who provide health care for
their employees, and eliminated the requirement that subsidized plans be
equivalent to the more costly Basic Health Plan.
“We’ve been trying for years to assist small employers in providing
health insurance for their employees,” Hinkle said. “But the majority
has been insistent on keeping government involved in the process. We’ve
been trying to get government out of health care and bring choice and
competition to the marketplace. This bill is finally taking us in the
right direction.”
The amended version of HB 2572 now heads back to the House for
consideration.
“Small employers can finally see some progress being made in Olympia. I
hope we can build on this momentum and pass small group reform in the
House. I will be pushing to get this improved bill passed in our
chamber,” Hinkle said.
Passing meaningful small group reform for employers has been part of the
House Republican “Commitment to Washington” laid out at the beginning of
the legislative session.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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