Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Recent steps toward helping Washingtonians be healthier:
Our focus is to protect the most vulnerable in our state; implement federal health reform to expand coverage to approximately 300,000 uninsured Washingtonians; eliminate waste in our system so taxpayer dollars are spent wisely; and provide transparency to the public.

Implementing the Affordable Care Act -- Furthers state implementation of federal health care reform by creating a health exchange marketplace enabling 300,000 or more individuals and small business employees to obtain coverage. HB 2319

Medicaid fraud reform -- Establishes the Medicaid fraud false claims act to provide the state with the tools necessary to effectively combat Medicaid fraud. SB 5978

Reproductive Parity Act -- Requires health plans that provide coverage for maternity care to also provide coverage to permit the voluntary termination of a pregnancy. HB 2330 (Did not pass)

K-12 health benefits merger -- Establishes a consolidated system for purchasing insurance benefits for school employees and their dependents. SB 5940

Medication for the uninsured -- Would allow practitioners, pharmacists, medical facilities, drug manufacturers and drug wholesalers to donate prescription drugs and supplies to pharmacies for redistribution to individuals who are low income and uninsured. HB 2228 (Did not pass)

Registration of reflexologists -- Provides for licensure to differentiate between the professions of reflexology and massage therapy to reduce occurrence of unlicensed massage, illicit activity and human trafficking. SB 6103

Reporting hospital employee compensation -- Requires non-profit hospitals to report on how much their executives are paid to the Department of Health. HB 2229

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