FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 15, 1995

Lowry names members of Health Care Outreach Task Force

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Mike Lowry today named Dr. Charles Weatherby of Tacoma to lead the Governor's Health Care Outreach Task Force for ethnic, minority and other under-served populations.

"This group of dedicated professionals will work to make quality health care more accessible for everyone in Washington," the governor said.

The 19-member group of health care professionals and state commission representatives will work with the Health Care Authority and the Department of Social and Health Services' Medical Assistance Administration to recommend ways to help more people get health care and health insurance coverage, especially among ethnic and minority populations and people with limited or no English-language proficiency.

Lowry said the success of the Basic Health Plan and the Medicaid program expansion for children in families up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level has led to a growth in available health care for working families. But he said state agencies still have not reached their enrollment goals, and certain segments of the population have not sought access to health care.

"This task force will work with communities and public and private partnerships to let people know what's available to them and how they can take advantage of the quality health care in their communities," the governor said.

The task force will meet monthly and has until the end of May to complete its work.

Members of the task force include:

###

For more information, contact the Governor's Communications Office at 360-753-6790.