Washington

Status of reform effort: Governor Gregoire signed legislation that codifies the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, which calls for all Washingtonians to have access to health coverage by 2012.

In February 2007, Governor Chris Gregoire (D) proposed legislation, the “Healthy Washington Initiative,” which adopted recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access to improve quality, address costs, and increase access to health care. 

The plan seeks to provide access to health care coverage for all Washingtonians by 2012 using the following measures:

• Create a statewide connector through which health insurance products can be bought and sold;
• Direct the Health Care Authority to provide grants to community health centers that work with local hospitals to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits;
• Create the Washington Quality Forum to address disparities in care;
• Expand chronic care management;
• Direct state health agencies to change contracts and reimbursement for pay-for-performance;
• Promote prevention. 

On March 13, 2007, Governor Gregoire signed legislation, SB 5093, to provide health insurance for all children by 2010.  The legislation expands SCHIP coverage to children with family incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level by January 2009, permits families with higher incomes to buy-in to public coverage at full cost, and covers all immigrant children. 

On May 2, 2007, Governor Gregoire signed SB 5930, the “Healthy Washington Initiative” which codifies the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission. The Health Care Authority is responsible for implementing a connector, The Health Insurance Partnership, which is scheduled to make health insurance products available for purchase in September 2008.

In April 2008, Governor Gregoire signed legislation aimed at advancing health reform. The legislation, engrossed SB 6333, creates the Washington Citizen’s Work Group on Health Care Reform. As part of that, the legislation also calls for an evaluation of different health reform proposals to be submitted to the state legislature and to the Working Group on Health Care Reform on December 15, 2008.

* S.B. 5093. 2007 Legislative Session. For bill text see: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5093-S2.SL.pdf. S.B. 5930. 2007 Legislative Session. For bill text see: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5930-S2.SL.pdf. S.B. 6333. 2008 Legislative Session. For bill text see: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6333&year=2008.

Updated as of 5/14/08