What They’re Watching: Former Sen. David Frockt, Washington Legislature – State of Reform

Former State Sen. David Frockt just lately ended his time within the Washington Legislature, having served since 2011 and held management positions on a number of health-related committees. He was a crucial supporter of progressive well being initiatives like Cascade Choose, the state’s public medical health insurance program. At our 2023 Washington State of Reform convention in January, the just lately retired lawmaker mentioned what he sees as the principle points persisting within the state’s healthcare system.

Regardless of important will increase in entry to healthcare lately, Frockt believes the state nonetheless has work to do, particularly pertaining to its behavioral well being system.

“We handed the Medicaid enlargement in Washington State with bipartisan assist. Think about that. That was 2012—in some states you’ll be able to’t even get that achieved, however we did that 10 years in the past. And we’ve additionally applied rather well all facets of the Reasonably priced Care Act, in my view, by way of increasing protection. So our protection charges are actually excessive now, relative to what they had been only a dozen years in the past …

However we have now fallen down. There’s no query we’re behind on the place we should be on behavioral well being entry. I believe it’s essential, if you happen to actually need to get round on these points and get educated, it’s a must to hearken to the place all people’s coming from. And normally there’s some fact, if not 100% fact, in what all people’s saying. And I believe you’ve obtained to be versatile in that regard, and that’s what makes it a difficult coverage space to work in.”