Senate health committee takes up governor’s request bill

OLYMPIA – The Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee continues progress toward bringing health-care reform to Washington, with a focus on bills growing out of the work of Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access.

Today, the committee heard testimony from Gov. Chris Gregoire on Senate Bill 5930, a comprehensive bill that would put into place the recommendations of the commission. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, would accomplish a number of steps to bring high-quality, affordable and accessible health care to Washington residents by:

• Requiring the use of evidence-based standards of care;
• Using the concept of a “medical home” for the aged, blind and disabled;
• Publicizing research on health-care quality, evidence-based medicine and patient safety to promote best practices;
• Contracting with community health centers to provide primary health and dental services to reduce the use of emergency rooms for these purposes;
• Requiring that plans offered to employees cover unmarried dependents younger than 25, regardless of whether the dependent is a college student;
• Creating a statewide public-private partnership to connect employees of small businesses and others to affordable health insurance; and
• Modeling a reinsurance plan to reduce premiums.

The committee also honored former Sen. Pat Thibaudeau, D-Seattle, presenting a framed picture of the Legislative Building. An inscribed brass plate expresses the gratitude of committee members and staff for her outstanding leadership and work as a member of the commission.

“Our state would not be this close to health-care reform if not for the work of Sen. Thibaudeau,” Keiser said. “Her tireless efforts have brought us closer to providing affordable health care access for all families across Washington.”

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