national watch
GreenCertified
Trucks
in
health insurance premiums
average rise
paid by employers in 2011
—
For Cleaner,
Greener
Communities
1-2 percentage points
due to provisions of Obama’s health
reform law already in effect
Source: The Wall Street Journal
the importance of providing a private-market option in addition to the planned
state exchange.
Joseph Rago, who won a Pulitzer Prize last year for his series of Wall Street
Journal editorials challenging health care reform, delivered the keynote address.
Other speakers included state Sens. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville and Karen Keiser,
D-Kent; James Capretta, a fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center; Hadley
Heath, senior policy analyst with the Independent Women’s Forum; Michael Tanner,
senior fellow with the Cato Institute; Molly Voris, health benefit exchange manager
with the Washington Health Care Authority; Jeff Gingold, a partner with Lane Powell;
and Donna Steward, AWB’s government affairs director for health care.
health insurance exchange
Earlier this year, Washington lawmakers approved legislation to create a state health
insurance exchange. As of late summer, Washington was one of 38 states and the District of Columbia to introduce some form of legislation implementing an exchange,
according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Ten states had passed
exchange legislation.
Under the federal health care law, states must decide by 2013 whether they will
create their own exchange, or leave it to the federal government to do it for them.
Washington is hoping to have its exchange up and running by the summer of 2013.
In theory, the exchanges will allow individuals and businesses to shop for
health insurance plans in a competitive marketplace, and provide qualifying
low-income individuals with premium subsidies. According to Washington’s
legislation, the state exchange is intended to create an organized, transparent
and accountable marketplace for Washingtonians to buy affordable and highquality health insurance.
Those sound like worthwhile goals, and the concept of a health benefit exchange
is not necessarily a bad thing, said Donna Steward, AWB’s government affairs
director for health care.
But like so many things in public policy, its success will rise or fall on the details.
Our trucks are now certified
by Evergreen Fleets for
improving air quality and
reducing greenhouse gases.
For WM, certification is an
important “first” because
no other heavy-duty fleet
in the region has earned
this distinction. For our
community partners across
Washington, it’s one more
clean and green solution
from Waste Management.
Find out more at wm.com
1-800-592-9995
fall 2011 25