Brief Description: Establishing the small employer health insurance partnership program.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Morrell, Clibborn, Green, Flannigan, Eickmeyer, Conway, Dickerson, Blake, Cody, Wallace, Roberts, Appleton, Hasegawa, McCoy, Linville, Simpson, Chase, Darneille, O'Brien, Murray, B. Sullivan, Ormsby, Springer, Moeller and Kagi).

House Committee on Health Care
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Recent rapid increases in the cost of health care have made it difficult for small employers to afford to provide coverage for their employees' health care coverage. The percentage of small employers providing health care coverage for their employees has declined over the past several years. The Health Care Authority provides subsidized health coverage for low-income individuals who meet income eligibility standards through the Basic Health Plan.

Summary:

A Small Employer Health Insurance Partnership Program is established in the Health Care Authority. It will provide premium subsidies to eligible employees who are employed by an employer who offers health coverage that has an actuarial value equivalent to that of the Basic Health Plan benefit, and the small employer agrees to pay at least 40 percent of the monthly premium cost for their employees.

The Department of Social and Health Services is directed to submit a request to the federal Department of Health and Human Services for a state Children's Health Insurance Program section 1115 demonstration waiver to seek authorization to draw down Washington's unspent state Children's Health Insurance Program allotment to finance Basic Health Plan coverage for parents of children enrolled in Medicaid or the state Children's Health Insurance Program. Authority is also sought to use the state savings to finance an expansion of the Basic Health Plan or subsidies under the Small Employer Health Insurance Partnership Program.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   57   41
Senate   42   5   (Senate amended)
House Refuses to Concur
Senate Recedes
Senate   25   23

Effective: June 7, 2006