It’s been a busy few weeks in the House! Last Friday was policy committee cut-off, the deadline for policy bills to be voted out of committee. Floor debates will likely take up the majority of my time in coming days. I’ll bring you up-to-speed on some of the bills we are able to move in future updates.
Children’s Day recognized in the House
Last Monday we celebrated Children’s Day, a yearly tradition that usually coincides with the Presidents’ Day holiday. With many children out of school for the holiday, we invite them to join us as we recognize the special place children hold in our communities, and the hopes and dreams they symbolize for a better future.
I was joined by all six of my grandchildren for the day – it was very special to have them here with me and made for a nice change of pace!
To see more pictures from Children’s day, you can visit the House Democrats blog and our Facebook page.
What the Affordable Care Act really means for our state’s small businesses
Change is on the way as our state takes the necessary steps to fully implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Getting our health care exchange approved so that it’s up and running on time is not only the fiscally responsible thing to do, it’s also the right thing to do for families, businesses and public health.
But all the changes can get a little confusing, especially those that affect small businesses (defined as businesses with less than 50 employees). The office of the state Insurance Commissioner has outlined what reforms have already gone into effect and what we can expect in coming years.
ACA reforms already in place:
- Tax credits of 35 percent if you offer health insurance, have fewer than 25 full-time workers, and you pay an average annual wage of $50,000.
- In 2014, that tax credit goes up to 50 percent.
What’s coming in 2014:
- If you have fewer than 50 employees, you’re not required to offer them health insurance. However, if you choose to offer health insurance, you could qualify for a tax rebate.
- All health plans must cover essential benefits.
- You can shop online for coverage through Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange and enjoy greater purchasing power, similar to large employers.
For a more detailed breakdown on what the ACA means for you, please take a look at this piece I wrote for my website.
Reforms of treatment for mentally ill pass committee
Recent tragedies have led to the introduction of a variety of legislation designed to combat gun violence. What has gotten less attention are the calls for meaningful reforms to the state’s mental health system.
I’ve sponsored a package of bills to reform how we handle the mentally ill, especially those who may pose a danger to others.
- House Bill 1777 would accelerate and expand procedures courts can use to detain individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others. The reform would allow mental health professionals to consider past incidents or behaviors to initially detain an individual for up to 72 hours.
- House Bill 1513 creates a process through which a person may be court ordered to comply with outpatient mental health treatment in case they don’t meet the threshold to be involuntarily committed.
- House Bill 1627 addresses the growing problem of the mentally ill landing in local jails as they wait for competency hearings. There has been a growing backlog in the courts that has helped contribute to prison overcrowding, improper treatment, and an undue burden on county governments.
The funding of our mental health system has become a crisis – all too often ending in tragedy. It is time that we step up to help families get the treatment they need for their loved ones and that we ensure that individuals who have the potential for violence are properly committed.
All three pieces of legislation were passed out of the House Judiciary committee on Thursday.
Multicare accepting applications for Nurse Camp
I wanted to pass along that Multicare is currently accepting applications for Nurse Camp 2013, which will be held July 16th through the 19th. The camp is open to 10th and 11th grade high school students who are interested in pursuing health careers.
The four day camp offers:
- Four full days of education, observation and participation in the daily activities of professional nurses and fellow allied health professionals.
- Visits to local college nursing and allied health programs.
- Opportunities to learn and perform basic hands-on health care skills, such as CPR, taking vital signs, suturing and stapling in the OR and performing IV start on mannequins.
To apply, follow this link. While an online submission is preferred, a PDF version is available on the website and can be submitted to the address on the application.
That’s all for now! As promised, I’ll bring you up-to-speed on upcoming floor action in a future update.