| SB 6228-S.E - DIGEST |
| (DIGEST AS ENACTED) |
Requires certain health insurance carriers to: (1) Offer member transparency tools with certain price and quality information; |
(2) Provide enrollees with the performance information required by section 2717 of the patient protection and affordable care act and any federal regulations or guidance issued under that section of the affordable care act; and |
(3) Attest to the office of the insurance commissioner that the member transparency tools meet certain requirements and that access to the tools is available on the home page within the health plan's secured member web site. |
| VETO MESSAGE ON ESSB 6228 |
| April 4, 2014 |
| To the Honorable President and Members, |
| The Senate of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Section 2, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6228 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to transparency tools for consumer information on health care cost and quality." |
| This bill requires that by 2016 health insurance carriers offer their members a host of good on-line tools with certain health care price and quality information. It complements my requested innovative health care purchasing bill, HB 2572. Together, I hope these bills help to transform the marketplace to make health care more affordable for Washingtonians. |
| Section 2 is an amendment to the original bill that includes nearly identical language as a section in HB 2572. This creates an unnecessary duplication in the law. In addition, the section in HB 2572 includes language that corresponds to the other health care purchasing innovations, so it is preferable to keep that language. |
| For these reasons I have vetoed Section 2 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6228. |
| With the exception of Section 2, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6228 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Jay Inslee |
| Governor |