House passes bill letting women designate OB-GYN as primary-care provider

House members on the floor adopted First Substitute House Bill 86, a measure that permits a woman to designate a participating obstetrician–gynecologist as her primary-care provider under her health plan, if that physician meets the plan’s definition of primary-care services and abides by the plan’s fee schedule. The bill was substituted and amended on the floor and passed the House by a vote of 64 yes and 1 no.

Sponsor Judy Ann Buffmeier told colleagues the substitute reflects input from health-care providers and removes a self-referral clause that drew concern in committee. Buffmeier said the change is voluntary for both patients and physicians and is intended to cut duplicated visits and costs for routine care during a woman’s childbearing years.

Representative Aden, who declared a personal conflict of interest before speaking, said the measure is not a mandate and underscored that many women see a single physician through ages 15–50; she urged support. Representative Alexander questioned whether the change could raise premiums. The sponsor replied that OB-GYNs designated as primary-care providers would be paid under primary-care fee schedules and that the bill’s language is intended to prevent higher premiums.

Floor amendments were adopted to correct wording (changing an article and deleting a reference to the word “female”) and to move the bill’s effective date from 07/01/1998 to 01/01/1999. The House then approved the substitute and amended bill and referred it to the Senate.

The measure drew multiple floor supporters who said it would preserve continuity of care and ease access for women who see an OB-GYN as their principal clinician. No organized opposition was recorded on the floor. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.