Gov. Gregoire applauds conditional approval of Washington�s health benefit exchange

For Immediate Release: December 10, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted Washington conditional approval to move forward with a state-based health insurance exchange:

�Thanks to Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, a great partner, for her leadership on an issue that will make a fundamental difference in the lives of millions of Americans. This conditional approval is a significant validation of the work that we�ve done to get our state�s health insurance exchange up and running.
�We are clearly ahead of the curve and well positioned to remain a national leader on health care reform. Through our exchange we will offer coverage to more than 200,000 uninsured Washingtonians and will boost competition in the marketplace. The exchange will bring lower prices to consumers and small businesses, improve health outcomes and lower costs for all of us.�