03/05/2006: "Lawmakers Pass Air Ambulance Bill"

The legislation that will allow air ambulance services to offer membership subscription programs has passed both the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives unanimously. It is expected the governor will sign the legislation. 90 days after the governor's signature, air ambulance companies can begin to offer air ambulance subscriptions enrollments.

Families in San Juan County will remember that air ambulance "insurance" used to be available to county citizens. Families subscribed for between $50 and $100 per year. The subscription provided full air ambulance coverage if a family member required an emergency helicopter flight to a mainland hospital. The cost of the service without the subscription ranges from $8,000 to $10,000. Prior to passage of this new legislation, the subscription option had been disallowed by the State Insurance Commissioner's office.

Three citizens from Orcas Island, Joan Berkowitz, board member of the Orcas Island Medical Clinic, Garth Eimers, in charge of emergency medical services for the Orcas Island Fire Department, and John Evans, Former San Juan County Commissioner, worked with State Senator Harriet Spanel to introduce the necessary legislation that reinstated the ability of air ambulance services to offer subscription services. All three citizens attend meetings regarding the proposed legislation and traveled to Olympia to testify before legislative committees. Representative Dave Quall sponsored the bill on the House of Representatives side of the legislature.