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Hinkle and Serben selected
for Blue Ribbon Panel
to control health care costs in state
Rep.
Bill Hinkle, Ranking Republican on the House Health Care
Committee, and Rep. John Serben were selected by the governor to join
the state Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care. The commission is
tasked with finding ways to provide accessible, affordable health care
for the state’s citizens.
“I have hopes for our report to the governor at the end of the
commission’s tenure,” said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. “I’m hoping that the
governor and the majority will heed my call for putting patients back in
control of their health care and truly reforming the health care market.
With competitive market reform comes lower costs and the ability for
small business owners to offer health care for their employees.”
The governor has called for the commission to come up with a sustainable
five-year plan to improve access to affordable health care for all
Washington residents. The first meeting of the commission is to be June
22 with a report due to the Legislature by Dec. 1.
“I would hope that the recommendations from this panel won’t include
inserting more costly government regulations into the health care
process in this state,” Serben, R-Spokane said. “I don’t believe we can
control costs by letting state government make decisions for patients. I
will try to convince my colleagues that patients need to make their own
decisions about health care providers and where their dollars are spent
to best meet their needs.”
The 12-member commission is comprised of the governor, eight lawmakers,
and governor-appointed representatives from various state agencies.
There are four Republicans on the panel: two from the Senate and two
from the House.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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