WA Insurance Commissioner Extends Emergency Orders

Surprised there hasn't been action taken to remove him from his position after he fired a whistleblower who exposed his abusive and even bizarre treatment of staff.

  Insurance commissioner extends three COVID emergency orders

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Embattled WA State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who has been under pressure to resign, extended three emergency orders concerning COVID testing. According to the office of the insurance commissioner, they are:

"Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended three emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until August 26.

Kreidler also extended his order requiring health insurers to cover coronavirus vaccine counseling until September 4."

   This is likely due to alleged upticks in COVID cases due to the latest variants, B.A. 4 and B.A. 5. Meanwhile, there's been no new activity on the resignation front.

  Kreidler is under pressure to resign

Kreidler, who made headlines by opposing credit-based insurance scoring because he claimed it was racist and discriminatory, landed in hot water over allegations of abusive and strange treatment of his staff. Even Gov. Inslee as well as bi-partisan legislators have been calling for him to resign for some time.

However, he has steadfastly refused to step down. There have also been questions about whether he has the authority to issue emergency orders. This is from the Revised Code of Washington:

"9. RCW 48.02. 060(5) provides that an order by the Insurance Commissioner under subsection (4) of this section may remain effective for not more than sixty (60) days unless the Insurance Commissioner extends the tennination date for the order for an additional period of not more than thirty (30) days"