5945-S2 AMH ERIC KNUT 119

2SSB 5945 - H AMD TO APPH COMM AMD (H-3041.2/09) 606

By Representative Hinkle

WITHDRAWN 4/16/2009

    On page 1, line 3 of the amendment, after "Sec. 1." strike all material through "efforts" on line 8, and insert the following:

    "(1) In January, 2007, the blue ribbon commission on health care costs and access issued their report which included a recommendation to give individuals and families more choice in selecting private insurance plans that work for them.  This recommendation specifically stated, "Washington needs a multipronged approach to tackle the challenges facing our uninsured population.  Over half of Washington's total uninsured population consists of young adults ages nineteen to thirty-four.  In addition, fifty thousand are employees of small businesses who have incomes in excess of two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.  Providing these and other individuals affordable insurance options in the private market will go a long way in decreasing the number of uninsured in the state"; and

    (2) State budget cuts to existing government health care programs such as the basic health plan, general assistance unemployable, and Medicaid, demonstrate the unsustainability of government health care programs and the need to reform the private health insurance market instead of expanding government health care programs which are intended to be safety net programs for our most vulnerable citizens"

    On page 1, line 13 of the amendment, after "physicians" insert "in the private health insurance market"

    On page 2, line 15 of the amendment, after "growth" strike all material through "revenue" on line 16 and insert "and limit the government's role in health care to facilitating and subsidizing health care for the poor and disabled.

    (i) Encourage rather than mandate employer contributions to employees' health care.  No reform plan shall include any type of tax or fee on employers or employees, or require employers to provide or pay for health insurance for their employees"

    On page 5, line 9 of the amendment, strike "and"

    On page 5, line 11 of the amendment, after "purchasing" insert "; and   

    (d) Reforms in the private health insurance market to provide individuals and employers more affordable health insurance options"

EFFECT:   Provides and alternative legislative finding related to specific recommendations of the blue ribbon commission on health care costs and access.  States that a principle of health care reform should be expanded choice in the private health insurance market.  An additional principle of health care reform would be to limit the government's role by focusing on the poor and disabled, and encouraging employers to offer health coverage for their employees.

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