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Republicans offer bold
solutions to state’s health care crisis
Governor’s
health care bill falls short, Blue Ribbon Commission process reduced to
hollow promises on important issues
Republican members of the
Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access say the health
care bill unveiled today by the governor (House
Bill 2098) not only ignores their recommendations, but will fail to
reach the commission’s goal of providing more affordable and accessible
health care in the state.
“This bill tries to take credit for solving all our health care
challenges, but it is actually very timid,” said
Sen. Cheryl Pflug, top ranking Republican on the Senate
Health and Long-Term Care Committee. “When we first convened the Blue
Ribbon Commission, we were excited about sharing ideas and working
together on solutions. So it came as a real shock and disappointment
when the governor came out with a bill that misses the point – and then
was unwilling to talk with us about it.”
“This is not where we wanted to be,” said Pflug, R-Maple Valley. “We’d
much rather be working with the governor on the solutions we heard about
during the commission meetings. We forwarded all our ideas to the
governor and listened to hers – but what we got back was a thin bill and
a closed door. The governor refused to discuss revisions. Instead she
sent a staffer to inform us that if we didn’t sign the bill as is, we
would not be at the table. Unfortunately, this bill is a used car –
recycling failed ideas of the last two decades – that we won’t buy 'as
is.'”
Pflug and
Rep. Bill Hinkle, top ranking Republican on the House Health
Care and Wellness Committee, also pointed out that the commission
recommended that small employers need more options and incentives when
it comes to offering their employers affordable health care plans. Yet
this key recommendation was omitted from the governor’s bill.
“Our health care system is in crisis and people want both parties to
work together on solutions. What we saw today is a bill that takes us
down the road toward more government-run health care,” said Hinkle,
R-Cle Elum. “I really enjoyed being a part of the Blue Ribbon Commission
and thought we came to a bipartisan consensus on how to cut costs and
increase access. But our specific ideas were watered down or left
behind. We were told to sign the governor’s bill as is or just step out.
That’s not bipartisan, nor is it what we worked toward for eight long
months.”
Senate and House Republicans have decided to move forward anyway,
putting cost-saving, access-building suggestions on the table.
Republicans will present their own bills and offer the solutions that
Washington residents and employers have wanted.
Solutions being offered by Republicans include:
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Increasing access to
health insurance by offering plans tailored to individual needs with
tax advantages and options for premium subsidies and cost savings.
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Designing a plan to
meet the needs of 19 to 34-year-olds who make up around one half of
the state's 600,000 uninsured.
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Creating affordable
plan options with various cost-sharing arrangements within the
state’s Basic Health Plan.
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Encouraging seamless
health plans that allow consumers to transition from state support
to private health care and move easily through various life stages.
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Enacting real reforms
to the Washington State Health Insurance Pool that make it more
affordable.
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Creating a different
type of connector program that enhances the market rather than
restricts it.
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Providing less costly
health insurance options to reduce the number of people who can’t
afford to buy insurance.
Hinkle also pointed out a
disconnect in the governor’s statements made in her news conference
today.
“In nearly the same breath, the governor said the Blue Ribbon
Commission’s report was hailed by some as the most comprehensive
approach to health care the nation has ever seen – and then, by her own
admission, she said we can’t bite off everything at once and that her
bill is only one point along the way,” said Hinkle. “That’s not bold
leadership. People have asked for – and deserve – more. Let’s provide
some real opportunities for the folks back home to purchase affordable
health care insurance.”
“To me, the Blue Ribbon Commission turned into the ‘Blue Light
Special,’" said Pflug. “What started out as a collaborative, bipartisan
effort became, sadly, the cubic zirconium of health care policy. After
all the time and good faith effort we’ve put into the process, it seems
the governor’s view of collaboration is for us to stand in the
background and clap when the applause light comes on. Our door is open,
and we would love to work with the governor on real solutions.”
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For interviews contact:
Sen. Cheryl Pflug (360) 786-7608
For more information on Pflug visit: http://src.leg.wa.gov/senators/pflug/pflug.htm
Visit http://src.leg.wa.gov/ for more news from the Senate Republican
Caucus
Rep. Bill Hinkle (360) 786-7808
For more information on Hinkle visit: http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Hinkle/
Visit http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/ for more news from the House
Republican Caucus
Pat Albright, Information Officer – (360) 786-7519 or albright.pat@leg.wa.gov
John Handy, Information Officer – (360) 786-5758 or handy.john@leg.wa.gov
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