Women of the House say Senate GOP budget chooses loopholes over families

They are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters. They're nurses, educators, and community activists. The women of the House Democratic caucus come from different backgrounds and different towns, but today they all shared one message: The Senate Republican budget proposal prioritizes special interest tax loopholes over our children and most vulnerable people.

Representatives Eileen Cody, Tami Green, Ruth Kagi, Laurie Jinkins, and Dawn Morrell led a group of women legislators calling out the problems for families in the Senate's plan. 

They pointed out that, instead of closing a single tax loophole -- many of which have been on the books for decades without any review -- the Senate actually includes 25 more loopholes.

Cuts in the budget plan include:

·  Childcare support for more than 4,500 families through Working Connections Childcare;

·  TANF Services – A temporary lifeline to struggling families used for the most basic of needs like rent assistance, school supplies and basic hygiene items;

·  Funding for career services and educational certification programs for the poor;

·  Required health care cost-sharing for low-income individuals, limiting access; 

·  Transitional housing services for seniors and reduced access to shelters for homeless families;

·  Corrections services, leading to early release of offenders;

·  Funding to home care services which keep seniors and the disabled from going into nursing homes;

·  Support for grandparents caring for their grandchildren, keeping them out of foster care; and

·  Legal services for low-income persons who need help to keep their homes.

 

Here is the full press release from today's event, and here are more comments about the budget plan.

Read this story in Spanish.

RIP RPA

Today nearly every insurance plan in Washington covers both maternity services and abortion services. However, the Affordable Care Act could inadvertently limit these reproductive choices by requiring additional administrative red-tape for abortion services. 

This change would interfere with a woman’s ability to make the best decisions for her family and her health.

Enter the Reproductive Parity Act (RPA) sponsored by House Health Care and Wellness Committee Chair Rep. Eileen Cody and 40 other co-sponsors. It would require insurance companies to continue their current policy of covering a full range of reproductive choice. The bill ensures fairness and protects freedom in a woman’s health care decisions. 

It passed the House back in February, and received a hearing in the Senate Health Care Committee on April 1st. At that hearing, Senator Steve Hobbs presented a letter signed by 25 senators who support the RPA – the majority needed to pass.

However, it appears the bill won’t be heading to Governor Inslee’s desk this year. The bill did not come up for a vote in committee ahead of Wednesday’s policy cutoff deadline.

Washington voters have a long history of supporting reproductive rights that stretches back over 40 years. Two years before Roe v. Wade, Washingtonians approved Referendum 20, which legalized abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.

Then again in 1991, when it looked like Roe could be overturned, voters approved Initiative 120, which protected a women’s right to make a private choice with her doctor regardless of what occurred at the federal level.

The Seattle Times, editorializing in favor of the RPA, summed it up perfectly:

A woman’s decision to become a mother shouldn’t be determined by a lack of resources or insurance. 

It’s a deeply personal choice between a patient and her doctor. Washington state has a history of respecting that right and should continue to protect it.

Refusing to let the RPA come up for a vote in the Senate is a defeat for women and privacy in Washington. This decision doesn’t reflect our state’s values.

You can find more information on the RPA here. You can also read some of the national attention the RPA and House Democrats have received over at the New York Times, Salon and Jezebel.

Read this story in Spanish.

The Affordable Care Act turns three

Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of President Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. At President Obama's side was Seattle-native Marcelas Owens - a tireless advocate for health reform. Like thousands of Americans year, the 11-year-old boy’s mother died of a treatable disease.

Last year, Governor Gregoire signed into law House Bill 2319 – legislation to ensure that our state was ready to fully implement health care reform. The measure was introduced and championed by HealthCare and Wellness Chair Eileen Cody.

Speaking at the time of passage, Rep. Cody said “Health coverage for all has been a value of our state for years. So we have historically been in the lead – whether it’s covering all kids, establishing the Basic Health Plan or passing consumer protections for patients. This is the next step.”

Governor Gregoire signs HB 2319 into law. She is joined by House Democrats
Eileen Cody, Laurie Jinkins and Speaker Frank Chopp

The ACA has already made critical improvements to our health care system. However, the best is still yet to come.

Beginning next year, the ACA offers us the chance to cover 385,000 Washingtonians making less than $15,000/year through the expansion of the Medicaid program. Over the next two years, Medicaid Expansion is estimated to save our state about $275 million. The caveat being that the legislature has to accept the federal dollars to do this.

Speaking to Medicaid Expansion earlier this session, Rep. Dawn Morrell said "I think we have to get past the rhetoric and to the plain facts... It's the right thing to do."

Also coming in 2014, all Washingtonians will be able to utilize the health benefits exchange to shop for insurance. While shopping for coverage, you will have access to a web-based system and professional advisors trained to help you select the plan that is right for you.

A few additional ACA improvements already in effect or coming soon:

• Young adults who may be looking for work during these tough economic times can stay on their parents’ plan until they find a job or reach the age of 26 – whichever comes first.
• Our health care system finally incentivizes preventative care by doing away with out-of-pocket costs for preventative care. Treating folks before their condition worsens isn’t only the right thing to do, it saves us money.
• Starting in 2014, no one can be denied health care coverage if they’re sick. The ACA also removes any caps on lifetime benefits that may have been in place – common sense safeguards that will prevent a Washingtonian from losing everything when they get sick.
• Also coming in 2014, all health plans will be required to cover essential benefits. These essential benefits include maternity care, mental health treatment, prescriptions and pediatric care.

What the Affordable Care Act really means for small businesses in WA

Rep. Dawn Morrell

The coming years will bring many changes as Washington state takes the necessary steps to fully implement the Affordable Care Act. In fact, Washington is one of 21 states with approval from the federal government to move forward with our health care exchange on-time in October of this year.

This session we’ll continue this important work. Not only is it the fiscally responsible thing to do- it’s the right thing to do for families, businesses and public health. In the House, these efforts are being led by Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Chair Dawn Morrell and Health Care and Wellness Chair Eileen Cody.

Rep. Eileen Cody

However, these changes have resulted in some misinformation and confusion surrounding the ACA reforms- especially with regards to small business (businesses with less than 50 employees).

Thankfully, we’ve got Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to clear up the confusion. He outlines what reforms that have already gone into effect and what we can expect in coming years.

 ACA reforms already in place:

• Tax credits of 35 percent if you offer health insurance, have fewer than 25 full-time workers, and you pay an average annual wage of $50,000.
• In 2014, that tax credit goes up to 50 percent.

What’s coming in 2014:

• If you have fewer than 50 employees, you’re not required to offer them health insurance. However, if you choose to offer health insurance, you could qualify for a tax rebate.
• All health plans must cover essential benefits.
• You can shop online for coverage through Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange and enjoy greater purchasing power, similar to large employers.

For a complete list of what health care reform means for individuals, families, seniors and large businesses, please visit the Commissioner Kreidler’s webpage on health care reform.

Read this story in Spanish.

Rep. Cody receives AMA’s highest honor

Our very own Representative Eileen Cody received the American Medical Association’s Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Public Service by a State Legislator last night in Washington, D.C.

The Davis Award is the AMA's highest honor for government service in health care. It is named after the AMA's founder and recognizes the work of elected and career officials in federal, state and municipal service whose contributions have promoted medicine and the betterment of public health.

“Rep. Cody has led efforts toward improving health care access for low income individuals and transforming mental health services in Washington state,” said AMA Board Chair Steven J. Stack, M.D. “Her dedication to public health has also earned the state national recognition for its long term health care services and support system.”

Rep. Cody was nominated by former Governor Gregoire for the award. Rep. Cody has been twice previously recognized by the Washington State Medical Association as Legislator of the Year. The WSMA noted Rep. Cody’s previous efforts to advance public health in our state.

When she's not being honored by national organizations, Rep. Cody works as a nurse at Group Health Cooperative in Seattle and serves as chair of the Health Care and Wellness Committee.

In the legislature, Rep. Cody has worked for improved patient safety, mental health parity, public health services and to restore the universal purchase of vaccines.

More recently, she has led efforts to implement the federal Affordable Care Act at the state level. Largely because of her work, Washington is one of just six states ready to implement the health benefits exchange on-time in 2014.


Photo: Rep. Cody with (at left) Terry Moran of ABC News and AMA Board Chair Steven J. Stack, M.D. Photo courtesy of the American Medical Association.

Read this story in Spanish.

Reproductive Parity Act gets public hearing tomorrow morning

Rep. Eileen Cody

While state legislatures across the country are turning back the clock on women’s health, Washington state and House Democrats are continuing to move forward as a leader in reproductive freedom.

Washington voters have a long history of supporting reproductive rights that stretches back over forty years. In fact, two years before the U.S. Supreme Court made their landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, Washingtonians approved Referendum 20, which legalized abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.

Then again in 1991, when it looked like Roe could be overturned, voters approved Initiative 120. I-120 protected a women’s right to make a private choice with her doctor in this state- no matter what occurred at the federal level.

Over twenty years later, nearly every single insurance plan in Washington covers both maternity services and abortion services. However, the Affordable Care Act could inadvertently limit these reproductive choices by denying coverage for terminating a pregnancy.

This change would interfere with a woman’s ability to make the best decisions for her family and her health.

Understanding that this could be an unintended consequence of the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) has introduced the Reproductive Parity Act for the second year in a row. The House version of the bill has over 40 co-sponsors.

The Reproductive Parity Act would protect a woman’s right to make their own health care decisions by requiring insurance plans to offer full coverage for repoductive health, as they do under current law.

Curious about the legislation? Interested in the conversation? The House Health Care and Wellness Committee is holding a public hearing on the Reproductive Parity Act tomorrow at 8:00 AM.

As always, TVW will be covering all the action from the hearing. You can also follow us on Twitter for live updates.

Read this story in Spanish. 

Moving forward on health care reform

It's full steam ahead for Washington state's health exchange after the federal government gave the Washington Healthplanfinder an O.K. earlier this week.

In order for the exchange to be up and running by 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services give conditional approval before January 1, 2013.

Our state is one of only six states to meet this deadline.

House Democrats didn't wait around for the Supreme Court to make their ruling on Obamacare. Last session, we passed legislation to ensure that we'd be ready to make health care more accessible, portable, and affordable once the ACA coverage provisions are implemented.

Our early action has paid off to the tune of more than $150 million in federal funding.

The Washington Healthplanfinder and other reforms are aimed at the largest remaining groups of people without health coverage: young adults, college students, workers at small businesses, the self-employed, and people who can't afford to buy health coverage on the individual market.

The program is designed to make it easier to compare health plans and get a better price for the coverage you want. This effort has been led by House Healthcare and Wellness Committee Chair, Rep. Eileen Cody.

A registered nurse, Rep. Cody said that, "Health coverage is one of the basics. Your family needs a home, food on the table, clothes, health care – it's just fundamental, and our goal with this legislation was to make it easier for every family, rich or poor, to get affordable health care for their loved ones."

Washingtonians with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level may qualify for premium financial assistance. Current estimates say that more than 200,000 uninsured residents will now be able to receive benefits.

For more information, visit the Washington Health Benefit Exchange website.

Read this story in Spanish here.

Committee approves budget proposal - floor debate planned to begin tomorrow

The House Ways and Means Committee met yesterday and stayed well into the night to approve the House budget proposal. The bill was approved on a vote of 16-11.

The committee adopted several amendments. The following were changes that impacted spending:

Additional Resources ($17.5 million total)

• Department of Revenue new revenues = $14.5 million (should have been reflected on the original balance sheet, due to DOR collection activity)
• Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Account = $3 million (transfer)
  

Spending Changes ($20.6 million total)

• Technical changes = $1.8 million
• Restore funding to Higher Education Coordinating Board = $4.7 million
• Agency provider health benefits – provide $450/month for home care workers = $2.1 million
• Centrum = $100,000
• Conservation Commission = $1.9 million
• Microsoft IT Academy for high schools = $2 million
• Courts funding – net of further reductions to Attorney General = $1.1 million
• Agriculture fees + Fair Fund = $7 million
  

Net change = $3.1 million

The revised ending fund balance is $792 million.

As this blog post is being written, the plan is to bring the budget to the floor tomorrow and begin debate on amendments. Final passage of the budget proposal is planned for Saturday. As we know, plans are always subject to change.

UPDATE:
If you want to know some of the differences between the budget proposal from Ways & Means Chair Ross Hunter and the proposal from the GOP, Reps. Larry Springer and Eileen Cody summed it up nicely in committee.

Cody's child immunization bill signed into law

Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a new law -- House Bill 2551 -- by Rep. Eileen Cody that will save money and kids. The law protects a child immunization program that made cheap vaccines available statewide.

A non-profit group will take over the program, saving taxpayers more than $25 million while safeguarding the health of our children. For a few dollars per shot, vaccinations can protect children against diseases like polio that used to cripple and kill millions each year.

Cody, Morrell and Moeller prove information saves us money - lots of money

Technology is improving health care in many ways, but it comes at a cost and not all health care technologies are doing a good job of delivering on their promise to make us healthier.

Washington state provides nearly $3 billion worth of health benefits every year to public employees, people on workers' comp, Medicaid recipients, inmates, and others. But is that $3 billion being spent on care that is proven to be cost-effective?

The Department of Labor & Industries uncovered an interesting news story in the latest New England Journal of Medicine highlighting Washington's innovative Health Technology Assessment program.

The Legislature created the HTA when it passed HB 2575 in 2006. The legislation was co-sponsored by Reps. Eileen Cody and Dawn Morrell, who both work as nurses and head the House Health Care Committee, as well as Jim Moeller.

They wanted to bring an evidence-based approach to figuring out what kinds of medical devices, procedures and tests are effective and deliver the outcomes promised by manufacturers. This information is intended to help the various state agencies that administer health care programs make more informed coverage decisions.

The HTA has only completed about a dozen assessments to date, due largely to their comprehensive nature. But those assessments have uncovered an estimated $21 million in savings.

For example, in screening for colorectal cancer, the HTA determined that a CT colonography isn't as cost-effective as a colonoscopy, which would have to be done anyhow if a colonography finds polyps. By not approving CT colonographies, the state will save an estimated $11 million a year.

The HTA is now planning their next round of assessments. If you have feedback, let them know.

Health care town hall tonight in Ballard

As the folks in the other Washington get closer to an agreement on a federal health care bill, many questions remain about the impact of federal efforts to our state programs, particularly in the face of increasing budget challenges.

36th district legislators Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Reps. Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle are hosting a town hall so people can speak with Senator Karen Keiser and Rep. Eileen Cody who chair the Legislature's two health care committees.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Ballard Swedish Medical Center (5300 Tallman Ave NW), Room A on the first floor. Everyone interested in health care issues is welcome!

Large rally on campus to support ferry system

The group gathered on the steps to the Capitol around noon:

Several House members attended, including Larry Seaquist, Christine Rolfes, Judy Clibborn, Sharon Nelson and Eileen Cody.

Steven Gardner over at the Kitsap Sun has on-going coverage at his blog: Kitsap Caucus

New committee chairs are now official

Legislators in the House D Caucus finally approved the committee structure and chairs for the 2009-2011 session. Committees and Chairs are:

Agriculture and Natural Resources: Brian Blake (Aberdeen)
Audit Review and Oversight: Mark Miloscia (Federal Way)
Capital Budget: Hans Dunshee (Snohomish)
Commerce and Labor: Steve Conway (Tacoma)
Community and Economic Development and Trade: Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (Seattle)
Early Learning and Children’s Services: Ruth Kagi (Lake Forest Park)
Ecology and Parks: Dave Upthegrove (Des Moines)
Education: Dave Quall (Mount Vernon)
Education Appropriations: Kathy Haigh (Shelton)
Environmental Health: Tom Campbell (Roy)
Finance: Ross Hunter (Medina)
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Steve Kirby (Tacoma)
General Government Appropriations: Jeannie Darneille (Tacoma)
Health and Human Services Appropriations: Eric Pettigrew (Seattle)
Health Care and Wellness: Eileen Cody (Seattle)
Higher Education: Deb Wallace (Vancouver)
Human Services: Mary Lou Dickerson (Seattle)
Judiciary: Jamie Pedersen (Seattle)
Local Government and Housing: Geoff Simpson (Covington)
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness: Christopher Hurst (Enumclaw)
Rules: Frank Chopp (Seattle)
State Government and Tribal Affairs: Sam Hunt (Olympia)
Technology, Energy and Communications: John McCoy (Tulalip)
Transportation: Judy Clibborn (Mercer Island)
Ways and Means: Kelli Linville (Bellingham)

Additionally, two vice chairs were also selected:
Ways and Means: Mark Ericks (Bothell)
Capital Budget: Timm Ormsby (Spokane)

Note the major change in committee structure with the creation of the Ways and Means committee. It replaces what was the Appropriations Committee. Now, the Education Appropriations, General Government Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations committees are standing committees (instead of sub-committees) and they will make funding recommendations to the new Ways and Means committee.