HB 3174 - DIGEST

     Declares that the purpose of this act is to establish a mechanism for the provision of basic health care insurance to residents of the state by renaming public hospital districts as public health care districts and authorizing these districts to provide basic health care insurance to residents of the districts.

     Authorizes public health care districts to use their property tax receipts to subsidize all or a portion of the premiums for this basic health care insurance, which may be provided directly by public health care districts joining together to form a self-insurance program, purchasing group health care insurance on the open market, or by paying the premiums, rates, or other amounts imposed for coverage under the Washington basic health plan.