Marr’s bill a signature away from extending health care to uninsured children

OLYMPIA — The only thing standing between 38,000 uninsured children and health coverage is Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature.

Senate Bill 5093, sponsored by Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, passed the House of Representatives today on a 68-28 vote, with two representatives excused. On Feb. 14, Marr’s bill passed the Senate on a 38-9 vote, with two senators excused. Its signing by Gregoire, who requested the bill, is a foregone conclusion.

“This is a special moment for uninsured kids across our state,” Marr said. “This legislation will change lives.”

SB 5093 follows up on Democrats’ promise two years ago to provide health coverage to all children in the state by 2010. The state has reduced the number of uninsured children by 23 percent since 2005, but 73,000 are still without coverage. Marr’s legislation will cut that number nearly in half.

Marr’s bill has been supported by numerous representatives of health care organizations who say it will improve children’s health into adulthood and lower health care costs for everyone.

“The importance of covering these kids can’t be overstated,” Marr said. “When kids don’t have coverage, they miss out on routine health care and screenings that detect illnesses that can cause lifelong disabilities. And when uninsured kids do get sick, their families take them to emergency rooms, where the costs are exorbitant and get passed on to private payers.”

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