Sen. Keiser to fellow lawmakers: Let’s finally fix our health care system

OLYMPIA — Washington patients and health care providers have complained for years that the health care system is broken, now lawmakers have the opportunity to fix it.

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, introduced a landmark bill today which would bring comprehensive health care coverage to all Washingtonians who aren’t covered by federal programs.

“Health care is becoming unaffordable,” Keiser said. “We have to restructure it.”

Senate Bill 6221, called the Washington Health Partnership, would reduce costs by eliminating premiums and would fund coverage through a combination of employer and employee payroll deductions.

Under the plan─ which relies on the private marketplace─ families would maintain a broad choice over coverage networks and doctors. In addition, health care administration costs would be reduced.

“Currently, thirty cents of every health care dollar is spent on administration costs. Paperwork is eating us alive. We will have uniform standards and uniform forms. Washington should save hundreds of millions of dollars a year,” Keiser said.

Keiser introduced the bill with Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach who sponsored a health care bill on which the Washington legislation is modeled. Erpenbach also testified before the Health & Long-Term Care Committee. In Wisconsin, economists found that families with incomes below $50,000 would see net reductions in family health spending averaging up to $1,000 per family. Small insuring employers, such as farmers and self-employed individuals, would see a significant reduction in health insurance costs- estimated to be nearly $1,000 per insured employee.

“People are ready for this around the country and every state. In the end, health care reform is coming from the states,” Erpenbach said.

Senate Bill 6221 is currently in the Health & Long Term Care Committee.

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