Spokane7
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March 2, 2012 in City
Senate approves health care exchange bill
OLYMPIA – Despite Republican objections that it was moving too fast, and reported threats of political reprisals, the Senate approved changes to a system of shopping for medical insurance that supporters liken to Internet sites such as Travelocity.
By a 27-22 vote, senators set new rules for the state’s fledgling health care exchange, which is being set up in conjunction with the federal Affordable Care Act.
Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, said the new rules will lead to a system for Washington residents who don’t have health insurance through their jobs to shop for it easily on the Internet, as people now compare airfares and hotel rates on sites like Travelocity or Expedia. It will also have a rating system, similar to Consumer Reports, to help shoppers choose the best plan.
The state currently has about 1 million residents without insurance, and this would help about 300,000 find plans they could afford, Keiser said. The state also could qualify for as much as $100 million in federal aid when the Affordable Care Act takes effect.
Health care exchanges are part of federal health care reform, but the system the Senate approved goes further than federal law in what it requires insurance companies to offer. Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, introduced an alternative approach that would have the state going slower on setting up the exchange and mandating fewer services for insurance plans to cover. Her amendment failed, 22-26.
“Federal health care reform is a moving target. There is nothing that we can hang our hats on,” Becker warned.
But Sen. Cheryl Pflug of Maple Valley, one of the few Republicans to back the final version, said the state should “do it our way” rather than stick solely to federal guidelines.
“People say the sky will fall if we reform. The sky is already falling,” Pflug said, adding she was appalled that some legislators were receiving notes from opponents of reform that there would be “consequences” to senators who voted for the bill.
The state’s rules were necessary to keep insurance companies from “cherry picking” the market, said Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam. That’s a term for offering low-cost, bare bones policies to young, healthy residents and leaving the state with older, sicker residents who can’t afford the expensive plans they’re offered.
But Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, said the rules go too far, making the exchange an expansion of government that will drive up costs. “Expedia was created by the private sector,” he added.
The Senate bill goes back to the House, where Rep. Eileen Cody, chairwoman of the Health Care and Wellness Committee, said she expected the new version to pass.
Work on the exchange starts this month, but the final system isn’t scheduled to be up and running before fall of 2013. By then, legislators can expect a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, and another session with new members elected in the November elections.
Some revisions likely will be needed next year, Keiser said: “Every piece of heavy lifting takes refinement. This is akin to trying to build Social Security on a state level.”
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DickAdams on March 02 at 6:36 a.m.
“Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, said the new rules will lead to a system for Washington residents who don’t have health insurance through their jobs to shop for it easily on the Internet, as people now compare airfares and hotel rates on sites like Travelocity or Expedia. It will also have a rating system, similar to Consumer Reports, to help shoppers choose the best plan.”
Reading the foregoing paragraph Senator Keiser is talking though her bonnet. Is she saying the citizens living in poverty and need state health care own computers? Maybe the gang in Olympia should hire Shafner, the infamous actor negotiates a lower price of a hotel room might help. And as usual, the legislators are lining up to spend federal funds expected from Obamacare.
I`ll wager Gregoire and Lisa Brown are probably talking about the expected money as they cry in their beer purchased from the private sector.
arroyoribera on March 04 at 12:52 a.m.
Come on, Dick. Take yourself a long vacation, man. And while you are at it take off your bonnet and set down your beer, dude. No, Kaiser is not saying “people living in poverty and who need state health care” own computers, though many do. And even if they don’t, computers are available everywhere, in libraries, colleges, community centers, etc. Many people — like it or not, Dick — can access the internet without a computer, don’t you know, Dick, on handheld devices, such as phones, etc, or on very cheap computers. And that, Dick, is something your sacred cow, the “private sector” is all to happy to make happen and make nearly essential for daily life. Or they can use a friend or family members computer. You do know, don’t you Dick, that “people living in poverty and who need state health care” have friends and family members, don’t you, Dick. Send us a postcard - an electronic postcard, of course, Dick - when you return from your much needed vacation. I’ll wager you don’t get out much, do you, Dick?
JustinEllenbecker on March 05 at 5:25 p.m.
It comes with great pleasure to see that these Senators responded to the 59 person delegation from Spokane of WA. community action network members that showed up to express our desire to see this passed.
We met with members of the WA state congress from all the local districts and were well received for the most part. Rep. Kevin Parker couldn’t take the time to meet with the people from his district, but given his record that didn’t come as much of a surprise.
Combined with other members of WA. C.A.N. from the local area and other activists we led a 3000 person march on the capitol building. We filled the congressional chamber, the overfill chamber, and the hallway.
As was described in the chambers “this is what Democracy looks like.” Having people at a grassroots level involved in their communities and higher levels is a necessary step towards the vision of Democracy that America can represent.