Clallam: Health-care providers get pledge to seek legislation aiding free clinics

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, June 18, 2003

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.

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The rest of this story appears in Wednesday’s Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.