Gregoire signs health care bills into law

SEATTLE – Gov. Chris Gregoire signed an array of health care measures into law Wednesday, putting the final stamp on a major priority for the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Leading the slate of about 20 bills signed at the University of Washington medical center was a broad health care reform plan, which sprang from a blue-ribbon commission headed by Gregoire and retired state Sen. Pat Thibaudeau.

The law makes a variety of changes meant to lower costs and improve access to health care, including a plan for boosting health insurance coverage for children and young adults.

Under the law, all insurance carriers and state employee programs must offer enrollees an opportunity to extend coverage for unmarried children up to age 25.

The measure also directs state agencies to find better ways to care for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

Gregoire said the plan grew out of frustration that federal leaders haven’t fixed larger national problems with the health care system.

“We decided that we had to step out, like some of our colleague states, and be a laboratory” for finding health care solutions, she said, flanked by UW doctors in white coats.

While the reform plan got wide support from statehouse Democrats, some Republican lawmakers were upset it did not include provisions to help reduce insurance costs for small business owners.

Gregoire also signed into law a bill that prohibits abstinence-only lessons at public schools offering sex education.

Under the measure, schools that choose to provide sex education would be required to discuss abstinence with students, but could not teach abstinence without also instructing students about other aspects of sexuality, including the use of contraceptives.

Opponents argued the measure doesn’t put enough emphasis on abstinence, doesn’t require proper notification to parents and takes control away from schools.