Health-care measure advances in state House

OLYMPIA — The state House passed a vast health-care measure Thursday that supporters say will improve Washington's system, but opponents say does nothing to help small businesses and families.

The measure was approved 61-34. House Health Care and Wellness Committee Chairwoman Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, said she expects the Senate to sign off on the changes, with the bill then going to the governor.

Gov. Christine Gregoire's health-care adviser, Christina Hulet, said the governor is on board with the House version of the bill.

The measure is based on the 16 recommendations made by the governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access.

"When it comes to health care we have not found the silver bullet that will solve all of our problems," Cody said. "With this bill what we've done is take a bunch of little steps."

"This doesn't provide a single benefit to small businesses and families," said Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, ranking member of the House Health Care committee. "I think it's too bad; it's a missed opportunity."

Among other things, the measure would encourage care that has been proved to work, start health-promotion programs for state employees, and allow online access to the University of Washington Health Science Library.

It also encourages the use of electronic medical records, which supporters say will improve safety and lower costs, while promoting better care of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

Mellani Hughes McAleenan, governmental-affairs director for the Association of Washington Business, said she was "heartbroken" by the measure.

"This bill as it passed out of the House does nothing to help small business," McAleenan said.

The measure includes the creation of a pilot program that would modify the current small-employer health-insurance partnership and rename it the "Health Insurance Partnership." It would be a test-run for a potentially larger pool, in which a state board would act as the "connector" between people and insurers.

The idea behind the connector is that the state could negotiate for lower health-insurance rates for the large pool. Supporters said the connector program could move the state toward universal health care.

It's based on a test program in Massachusetts. McAleenan said the state should wait to see how the idea works there before adopting the changes.