SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5436

                      AS OF MARCH 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Establishing a pilot project to provide nutritional counseling to high‑risk medicaid recipients.

SPONSORS: Senators Talmadge, Moyer, Prentice, Fraser, Franklin and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Staff:  Shannon Murphy (786‑7483)

Hearing Dates: March 3, 1993

BACKGROUND:

It is believed by some that the high cost of Medicaid in this state may be reduced through nutritional counseling to certain high-risk Medicaid recipients.  It is also believed that physicians are recommending nutritional counseling for certain Medicaid recipients, but funding is not available for this service. 

SUMMARY:

A pilot project is established to determine the impact of nutritional counseling on recipients of Medicaid.  The project will be for a period of two years and will take place in King, Pierce and Spokane counties.  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) shall administer the program.

Participants in the program will be referred by an attending physician.  Referral of participants will be based on the potential for improvement of a medical condition through better nutrition.  The focus of the program will be on high risk patients with conditions such as:  high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lipid disorders and obesity.

Registered dieticians shall provide the nutritional counseling services for this program.  The registered dieticians are required to maintain data on each patient counseled in the program.

DSHS is required to establish the parameters of the program and to contract with participating hospitals for nutritional counseling services.

DSHS is required to report to the Legislature by November 1, 1995.  The project is required to start no later than September of 1993.

Appropriation:  $350,000

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available