Below is a statement from Representative Rick Larsen’s (D-2nd) Chief of Staff Kim Johnston, received via email by The Bellingham Herald:

After reading the section of the bill containing the public option, Rep. Larsen has come to the conclusion that he supports the public option in this bill. This new public option will work for Washington state. In the original bill (H.R. 3200) payment rates in the public option would have been based on Medicare, which would have shortchanged Washington state. But the payment rates in this new public option (H.R. 3962) will be negotiated between doctors and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This will ensure that doctors and hospitals are paid closer to market rates. Paying doctors fair market rates will ensure that they are able to accept patients covered by the public plan.

Rep. Larsen has also said that he believes any public option must compete under a “level playing field” with the private health insurance market. The public option in this bill will do just that: it will be subject to the same rules that private insurance plans are subject to, and it will not be subsidized by the government.

Representative Larsen previously stated he was likely to support the bill, but wanted to read it before making further comments.