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Ten solutions for a healthier Washington
By Rep. Dan
Kristiansen
When it comes to health
care reform, most of us want the same thing. We want to make sure
everyone has access to affordable, quality health care. The question is: "How do we get there?"
While the national debate
centers around health care proposals in Congress, many of
affordability and accessibility problems in our state could be addressed
by our Legislature.
For the past two months,
Washington House Republicans have traveled throughout the state, holding
public forums on a 10-point health care reform plan that could be
implemented by the Legislature in the coming session. The first forum
was held Aug. 31 in Bellingham. The most recent was conducted Oct. 5 in
Burlington.
Our solutions seek to
protect what is working, fix what is broken, repair the safety net for
the truly needy, and remove government barriers that prevent affordable,
accessible health care. They include:
1.
House Bill 1871: Allow purchase of health care plans in other
states. This gives consumers more options to choose from a
competitive, affordable menu of coverage.
2.
House Bill 1868: New choices for small employers. Our
proposal would allow small businesses and their employees to choose
affordable, customized health insurance plans that meets their
individual needs.
3.
House Bill 1866: Young adult plans. Young adults ages 19 to
34 are generally healthy and have lower medical bills. They should
be allowed to purchase cost-effective plans that meet their needs
and budgets.
4.
House Bill 1870:
Allow Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for state employees. This
would allow medical expenses to be paid with pre-tax dollars,
providing cost coverage for state employees and substantial savings
for taxpayers.
5.
House Bill 1867:
Eliminate Certificate of Need (CoN). CoN restricts health care
providers from expanding services without state approval. Repealing
it would encourage innovation, options and choices.
6.
House Bill 1865:
Allow choices in benefit plans. One size does not fit all. You
should have the option of getting coverage most appropriate for your
individual needs, and the ability to pay more or less, depending on
the options you choose.
7.
House Bill 1872:
Cut taxes on health care plans. We would repeal the 2 percent
insurance premium tax for HSAs. Small employers and self-employed
individuals would receive a tax credit for providing health
insurance.
8.
House Bill 2169:
Reform the state's Basic Health Plan. This would restore the
original intent of this program of providing a safety net for the
uninsured and vulnerable citizens who truly need, but cannot afford,
health care coverage.
9. (Legislation
being drafted): Protecting the rights of patients to make their own
health care choices. This would ensure personal health care
decisions are left between you and your doctor, not government
bureaucrats or a pencil-pushing accountant looking out for an
insurance carrier's bottom line.
10. (Legislation
being drafted): Comprehensive medical malpractice reform. Rising
settlements and awards mean higher medical malpractice insurance
rates and force doctors to practice defensive medicine (such as
ordering unnecessary tests to prevent lawsuits). Those costs are
passed onto patients. Tort reform would reduce providers' costs.
Access to affordable
health care for all of Washington's residents is complicated, but not
impossible. These 10 solutions include specific bills that provide an
achievable plan which would lower costs, provide more options, and
reduce regulations that serve as barriers against health care. I invite
you to track these bills at
www.leg.wa.gov and become part of the discussion. Together, we can
ensure affordable, accessible health care will no longer be a missed
opportunity for Washington's citizens.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish,
represents the 39th Legislative District, and also serves as chairman of
the Washington House Republican Caucus. He can be contacted at (360)
786-7967 or from his Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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