Jay Inslee on Health Care Democratic WA Governor; Former Rep/ (WA-1); withdrew from Presidential primary Aug. 2019

Community-based behavioral health care is what works

We've been building a new, community-based system that helps people get the specific type of care they need closer to their homes and loved ones. Community-based care is what works. We're still building, and my budgets contain funding to keep every part of our plan on track, including the new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State.

COVID: Lower infections with masks, distancing, not Trump

Culp argues that many of these restrictions, most notably a mask mandate, shouldn't be dictated by the governor. Wearing a mask, he says, should be a personal choice. "The problem is when we have one person sitting in the governor's office telling everyone what they are going to wear," Culp says.

Implemented statewide public option within ObamaCare

• The Washington government would contract with private health carriers to sell state-sponsored health insurance plans on its ObamaCare marketplace.
• The public option plan would be required to meet certain benefits and out-of-pocket requirements set by the state.
• The plan would pay health care providers 160% of Medicare rates, with a few limited exceptions.
• The state will explore increasing the eligibility for insurance tax subsidies from 400% of the federal poverty level (as set by ObamaCare) to 500%.

Medicare for all who want it: opt-in, not mandate

A: Well, I call it "Medicare for all who want it." I have not called for making all private coverage illegal. I've not called to make all private carriers illegal. There's a little flavor difference there. We do obviously believe health care is a right; we believe in universal coverage. We believe my step is a good step forward, but it's not the only one. We've got to reduce the age of automatic entry. I think we should reduce the age of eligibility to zero for new citizens. That will give us a full Medicare plan as more Americans come into the system.

Q: Would you be willing to let people who get insurance through their work join a government plan if they wanted to?

A: Yes, that includes employer-sponsored plans. They're certainly eligible to come in. I believe over time, people are going to find it very, very attractive. [We hope] to give people confidence to move to a Medicare-for-all system.

Declared emergency over measles anti-vaccination wave

Public option; more access to Medicare by lowering age

Lower eligibility for Medicare; provide public option

Take initial steps towards universal health care

Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care.

Promote Universal Access and Quality in Health Care
That more than 40 million Americans lack health insurance is one of our society’s most glaring inequities. Lack of insurance jeopardizes the health of disadvantaged Americans and also imposes high costs on everyone else when the uninsured lack preventive care and get treatment from emergency rooms. Washington provides a tax subsidy for insurance for Americans who get coverage from their employers but offers nothing to workers who don’t have job-based coverage.

Markets alone cannot assure universal access to health coverage. Government should enable all low-income families to buy health insurance. Individuals must take responsibility for insuring themselves and their families whether or not they qualify for public assistance.

Finally, to help promote higher quality in health care for all Americans, we need reliable information on the quality of health care delivered by health plans and providers; a “patient’s bill of rights” that ensures access to medically necessary care; and a system in which private health plans compete on the basis of quality as well as cost.

Goals for 2010
• Reduce the number of uninsured Americans by two-thirds through tax credits, purchasing pools, and other means.
• Create a system of reliable “report cards” on the quality of care delivered by health plans and providers.

Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.

The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. APHA is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

The following ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization`s preferred position.

Establish a national childhood cancer database.

Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007 - A bill to advance medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and families have access to the current treatments and information regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric cancers.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to childhood cancer professional and direct service organizations for the expansion and widespread implementation of:
1. activities that provide information on treatment protocols to ensure early access to the best available therapies and clinical trials for pediatric cancers;
2. activities that provide available information on the late effects of pediatric cancer treatment to ensure access to necessary long-term medical and psychological care; and
3. direct resource services such as educational outreach for parents, information on school reentry and postsecondary education, and resource directories or referral services for financial assistance, psychological counseling, and other support services.

Establish a National Diabetes Coordinator.

A bill to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications and establish the position of National Diabetes Coordinator. Establishes the position of National Diabetes Coordinator, whose duties shall be to:

1. serve as the principal advisor on reducing the rates of diabetes and its complications;
2. develop a measurement for the incidence of diabetes;
3. develop and coordinate implementation of a national strategy to reduce the incidence, progression, and impact of diabetes and its complications;
4. provide leadership and coordination to ensure that diabetes-related programs are coordinated internally and with those of relevant federal, state, and local agencies with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort, maximizing impact, and marshaling all government resources; and
5. coordinate public and private resources to develop and lead a public awareness campaign regarding the prevention and control of diabetes and its complications.

In carrying out the duties described, the Coordinator shall adhere to the mission of:
1. preventing diabetes in those individuals and populations at risk for the disease;
2. increasing detection of diabetes;
3. maximizing the return on diabetes research;
4. increasing diabetes control efforts;
5. improving the standard of diabetes care available; and
6. supplementing, but not supplanting, existing diabetes research programs.
7. Requires reports to the President on ways in which food programs and nutritional support can be better targeted at concerns specific to those at risk for diabetes or those already diagnosed whose complications could be reduced by more effective diet.

Expand the National Health Service Corps.

A bill to achieve access to comprehensive primary health care services for all Americans and to reform the organization of primary care delivery through an expansion of the Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs. Amends the Public Health Service Act to:
1. increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for community health centers and for the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment program for FY2010-FY2015, and provide for increased funding for such programs in FY2016 and each subsequent fiscal year; and
2. revise and expand provisions allowing a community health center to provide services at different locations, adjust its operating plan and budget, enter into arrangements with other centers to purchase supplies and services at reduced cost, and correct material failures in grant compliance.

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