Spokane7
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May 12, 2011 in City
Laws ready state for health plan
Washington ‘can’t sit back and wait’ for reforms
OLYMPIA – Washington will stay in the forefront of federal health care reform, and could save as much as $26 billion over the next decade, with a half-dozen bills signed into law Wednesday.
Even though the federal health care reforms are being challenged in court and by critics in Congress, Gov. Chris Gregoire and other state officials said the new state laws are needed now. They also make Washington eligible for federal funds while giving the state the chance to re-shape health care to fit its needs.
“We can’t sit back and wait,” State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said. “Doing nothing means the feds are going to take over.”
Among the new laws are a ban on refusing coverage to anyone under 19 because of a pre-existing condition; increased access for consumers to information insurance companies submit to justify rate increases; a system that will try to identify overused and misused services and encourage consumers to use better and cheaper services; and a health insurance exchange, which would help small companies find cheaper medical coverage available to large employers.
“The beauty of the exchange is not so much lowering the cost of total care but lowering the cost of access,” state Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, said. “Even those of us that don’t like the individual mandate (to have health insurance) like the exchange.”
Gregoire said the new laws could cut in half – from 8 percent to 4 percent – the projected annual increase in health care costs to businesses, families and government.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
DickAdams on May 12 at 8:19 a.m.
Camden writes, federal funds. I wanna puke.
Coffee on May 12 at 8:36 a.m.
Time will tell. I have found that most politicians do and say what ever they are payed to say or whats makes a good sound bite.
Maybe this time they did do something for the people and not for them self’s and their paymasters. Time will tell.
nslopeofw on May 12 at 9:34 a.m.
The truth about Obamacare from the likes of the Mayo clinic and others:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_SETBACK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-11-16-10-25
leekinny on May 12 at 9:36 a.m.
Sounds like Washington state Republicans may be on board. But it’s still less than single payer.
saidido912 on May 12 at 1:57 p.m.
“Gregoire said the new laws could cut in half – from 8 percent to 4 percent – the projected annual increase in health care costs to businesses, families and government.”
What planet does she live on? As a small business owner in WA, I have had annual increases of 31.8% and 38.8% in health insurance premiums the last two years. Premiums have more than doubled since 2007.
I’d welcome an 8 percent increase! Where do I sign up?
meadman on May 12 at 2:50 p.m.
well well Saidido912 – you complain about the huge premium increases in health coverage (and I agree)…. that being said, I certainly hope you don’t agree with the GOP plan to put health care and Medicare under the control of the insurance industry! That will just insure (no pun intended) that prices will continue to rise rapidly so the insurance companies can make ever larger profits. The GOP and Ryan plan does nothing to address the real underlying issue — the rapidly rising cost of the CARE. At least the Obama plan makes an attempt to bring about some control over such costs.
Look at what Vermont just did – they went to a state-administered single payer system. They (and several experts) agree this will bring down costs, widen coverage, and be very beneficial to the taxpayers of that state. It is what Obama and the Dems should have pushed for…
kemme1312 on May 15 at 9:43 a.m.
in our governors new law im being addressed with the question of quality of care,our governor/physician.has made it so hard for me to get proper treatment,that the standards of care has fallen below theproper levels,now im being addressed with quality of life over a twelve dollar prescription,witch will cost sixty thousand for a sergery,and on going care as well,the hippa law requires privacy between my physician and me,i want to know where that states the governor makes that decision over all,after all she doesnt even know who i am,my name is kemme,william and the 1312 stands for twelve jurers one judge and a half chance of justice,and that is be proven more and more.