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Clallam: Health-care providers get pledge to seek legislation aiding free clinics
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JIM MANDERS A committee trying to improve access to health care on the North Olympic Peninsula will ask the state Legislature for help. Volunteers in Medicine, a subcommittee of United Way of Clallam County's Healthy Communities program, agreed Tuesday to propose a package of bills to lawmakers for consideration during the 2004 session. The bills would ease licensing regulations for physicians retired from other states who wish to volunteer at free clinics; allow specialists, including obstetricians, to practice at the free clinics; and give volunteer physicians easier access to malpractice insurance. Reps. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, and Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, volunteered nonpartisan staff help to get the proposed legislation written by early September so it has a chance to be considered during next year's session, which starts in January. |