In coming years, Washington state’s health care providers will see an influx of new patients through both the expansion of the Medicaid program and the establishment of Washington Healthplanfinder – our state’s online health insurance exchange.
Today, the House of Representatives took action to make sure that our health care system is ready for this boom in business. From registered nurses to denturists, the bills approved will ensure that every Washingtonian has access to the provider they need.
A few of the capacity-improving measures include:
- HB 1155: Rep. Eileen Cody’s (D-West Seattle) bill would remove administrative barriers to patient care and support the transition to electronic care by allowing prescriptions to be issued electronically – promoting both safety and efficiency.
- HB 1271: Coming courtesy of Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma), this bill would expand the types of services a licensed denturist may provide to include certain non-orthodontic removable oral devices – like sport mouth guards, bruxism devices and snoring devices.
- HB 1660: A Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) bill to streamline the administrative process for colleges and providers. By reducing unnecessary paperwork, we can train nurses and doctors in a more efficient and timely manner.
- HB 1538: A Rep. Dawn Morrell (D-Puyallup) bill to improve access to critical prescription drugs at convenient locations around the state. HB 1538 would allow nurses at local health centers or clinics to issue prescription drugs for the prevention and treatment of a communicable disease or family planning.
“The Affordable Care Act offers us an opportunity to dramatically increase the number of Washingtonians with access to quality health care services,” said Rep. Dawn Morrell, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. “We’ve got to make sure we are ready. These are small changes to increase access and meet the demand.”