News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 6, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke pledges to continue improving state health care at Overlake ceremony

BELLEVUE - Gov. Gary Locke today pledged to continue improving citizen access to health care services in Washington.

Locke made his remarks today during a ceremony celebrating Overlake Hospital Medical Center's 40th anniversary, the 10th anniversary of its Childbirth Center and the grand opening of its Overlake Medical Tower and Cancer Center.

He praised Overlake Medical Center as a "shining example of what can be accomplished when communities work together."

Locke said he would work with the Legislature to ensure Washington residents have access to the best possible health care. Specifically, Locke said he would:

Expand health insurance coverage to youngsters through the state's Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), Medicaid and other programs
Ensure individual health insurance policies are available to people who need them

Continue to provide health coverage to working families through programs such as the state's Basic Health Plan, which insures low income people

Reduce the price of prescription drugs to seniors through programs such as AWARDS, which uses the state's purchasing power to negotiate discount prices

Ensure health care professionals provide quality services to patients as required by the state's Patients' Bill of Rights law, which he signed in the last legislative session.

At today's ceremony, Locke said, "Today, you can celebrate 40 years of not only keeping pace with the growing demand for health care services, but keeping pace with nationally recognized programs and technologies."

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