Yesterday, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced her health care goal, as the AP's David Ammons reports.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and Democratic legislative leaders committed state government on Tuesday to the expensive and complicated goal of universal health care coverage for Washington residents within five years.
Here's the Governor's press release and a two-page brief describing her Healthy Washington initiative, which she says ties back to recommendations of her blue ribbon commission.
From her news release:
“Washingtonians know that access, quality and cost go hand-in-hand and they are ready for us to move forward and take a comprehensive approach to health care,” said Governor Gregoire. “Quality, affordable health care is a right, not a privilege, and the Healthy Washington Initiative will make changes that bring us another step closer to serving all Washingtonians.”
The AP story summarizes:
Strategies include covering all children by 2010 and adding young adults through age 24, covering foster-care youth past their 18th birthdays, and cracking down on emergency room overuse. The package also proposes better use of technology, aiding businesses, finding ways to drive down costs and expanding the state-subsidized health plan for the working poor.
Ammons quotes Democratic lawmakers as saying the proposal will be considered Monday. He also reports briefly on Republican concerns, including high costs, a lack of incentives, and limited choice. Rep. Bill Hinkle (R-Cle Elum) said: “There is nothing in there that will reduce health care costs,” he said. “This only increases costs. … You can drive a truck through it and have government take over.”
The governor proposes $142 million in spending on the plan in the next two years.
