Affordable and accessible access to health care is a basic right, but hospital mergers threaten to raise prices and limit the number of patients that the clinic can care for.
Senate Bill 5241, or the Keep Our Care Act, if passed in the Washington State legislature, will provide oversight to these mergers and acquisitions. The two largest nonprofit health systems in Washington have a combined $32 million in reserve to account for any costs of providing this oversight and ensuring care for Washington residents in the long run.
Additionally, oversight programs like this have been proven effective in other states, such as Massachusetts and Oregon. I urge you to email or call your state senator and ask them to vote in support of this important bill.
Matteah Davis
University of Washington student
Seattle
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