Greetings from Olympia!
Believe it or not, we are already two months into the 2013 legislative session. The session follows a cut-off calendar, which determines the deadlines for public hearings and executive action on bills, as well as floor action in both the House and Senate. House policy committees did not meet this week, but legislators have been busy hearing bills in the House fiscal committees. Bills must pass out of these committees by Friday, March 1st, if they are to remain in play this year – unless they are budget-related.
Starting next week, we’ll be on the floor of the House voting on legislation every day, potentially including Saturday and Sunday. It’s the only way we can get as much done as possible within the short time frame we have to move legislation forward.
Healthcare reform in our community
As Chair of the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee, healthcare reform has always been a priority of mine. We’ve already begun to benefit from the changes made under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and there’s more to look forward to in 2014. These changes benefit us all – young or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor.
Starting in 2014, all Washingtonians will be able to utilize the health benefits exchange to shop for insurance. While shopping for coverage, you will have access to a web-based system and professional advisors trained to help you select the plan that is right for you.
The ACA also offers us the chance to cover about 385,000 Washingtonians making less than $15,000 year through the expansion of the Medicaid program. The Medicaid Expansion will allow us to insure 385,000 Washingtonians and saves about $200 million over the next two years. The caveat being that the legislature has to accept the federal dollars to do this.
We can’t pass up an opportunity to bring our tax dollars back to Washington and put them to work in our hospitals and clinics.
A few additional improvements:
- Young adults who may be looking for work during these tough economic times can stay on their parents’ plan until they find a job or reach the age of 26 – whichever comes first.
- The ACA stipulates that no one can be denied health care coverage if they’re sick and removes any caps on lifetime benefits that may have been in place – common sense safeguards that will prevent a Washingtonian from losing everything when they get sick.
- All health plans will be required to cover essential benefits. These essential benefits include maternity care, mental health treatment, prescriptions and pediatric care.
- Our health care system will finally incentivize preventative care by doing away with out-of-pocket costs for preventative care. Treating folks before their condition worsens isn’t only the right thing to do, it saves us money.
What the ACA really means for small business and our economy
One of the major criticisms of the ACA is what it will mean for our economy and business in the state. In actuality, health care reform and the Medicaid Expansion stand to be a major driving force to push us out of the recession.
Contrary to what you might have heard, the ACA does not require small businesses to purchase health insurance. However, if they choose to, they are eligible for a tax rebate of up to 50 percent in 2014. Small businesses will also be able to utilize the health benefits exchange to purchase insurance beginning in 2014.
On a more macro level, the public investment means that all sectors of our health care system will need to grow. This kicks off a chain reaction through allied industries and creating billions in economic activity and thousands of jobs – both directly and indirectly.
Help us spread the word
However, for health care reform to truly be meaningful, every Washingtonian must take advantage of the improvements offered to them. Folks need to know what the ACA really means – so I am asking you to share this information with your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Please feel free to forward this e-newsletter to folks who may have questions! Additionally, don’t hesitate to contact my office with comments or questions. My e-mail and phone number are available in the upper right hand corner of this e-newsletter.