WASHINGTON HEALTH WORKING GROUP
The Working Group will consider up to five possible health care reform plans for the state of Washington which will be submitted to an actuarial firm for an analysis that should meet the following criteria:
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Ensure secure quality and affordable health care to all Washingtonians
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Ensure choice of provider and quality affordable health plans
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Provide an affordable sliding scale for health care costs to ensure personal responsibility for all adult Washingtonians.
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Share the cost for the health system and the responsibility for making the system work between individuals, employers and government.
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Provide that care should be affordable for individuals and employers, including small businesses, and changes to the present system will benefit those employers who already provide quality affordable health care for their employees.
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Encourage personal healthful behaviors by providing incentives and health education.
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Require government to be a watchdog ensuring the health system is working and fair for individuals, employers, and providers; that health care remains affordable; and that there are high quality affordable health plans available.
The Working Group should hold no less than 2 listening/discussion sessions in each congressional district in the state to share with the public, through a civic engagement process, an explanation of the plans and the results of the actuarial studies. After holding these public discussions, the Working Group may develop its own plan to submit to the actuarial firm for analysis.
Who will be on the Working Group: The Working Group should include representatives from the following sectors: business, labor, providers and consumers.
How Staffed: The Governor or the Governor’s designee and the Chair of the Working Group should choose the Executive Director of the Working Group. The Executive Director may choose an Assistant Director. Further staffing to the Working Group should be provided from OFM and the nonpartisan staff of the legislative health care committees.
Funding: To cover the cost of staff, actuarial studies, and meetings around the state, the legislature should allocate $1 million dollars.
Timing: The Working Group should cease to exist on Feb. 15, 2009.