State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington State Medical Association at its annual meeting in Spokane this month.

“Senator Haugen has been a strong ally in getting healthcare services to the people of Washington state,” said Dr. Brian Wicks, immediate past president of the WSMA, an organization of more than 9,500 physicians.

He said Haugen, a Democrat from the 10th District, has been a strong advocate for mental-health parity, requiring insurance companies to cover mental illness in the same manner as physical health coverage.

Wicks also praised her efforts to expand access to health insurance for children throughout the state, and to improve Medicaid reimbursement for children’s services.

Haugen, of Camano Island, has been a state senator since 1993.