Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2114
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Establishing a forum for testing primary care medical home reimbursement pilot projects.
Sponsors: Representatives Seaquist and Cody; by request of Governor Gregoire.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/19/09
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146)
Background:
In 2007 the Legislature enacted legislation that provided health care coverage to children with family incomes at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. As part of the legislation, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was directed to identify explicit performance measures that indicate that a child has an established and effective medical home and to report the measures to the Legislature by December 2007. In the report, dated November 30, 2007, the DSHS workgroup recommended the adoption of the medical home definition identified in the Washington State Medical Home Fact Sheet, a concept document created by the Washington State Partnership for Medical Homes. The document provides that a medical home is "an approach to delivering primary health care through a 'team partnership' that ensures health care services are provided in a high-quality and comprehensive manner."In separate 2007 legislation, the DSHS was directed to work with the Department of Health (DOH) to design and implement medical homes for its aged, blind, and disabled clients in conjunction with chronic-care management programs to improve health outcomes, access, and cost-effectiveness. The legislation provided that the approach was to build on the Washington State Collaborative Initiative (Collaborative), based on a systematic approach to health care quality improvement in which organizations test and measure practice innovations. The DOH has implemented the legislation through the Washington State Collaborative to Improve Health, in which several medical teams work to improve the quality of care delivered by their primary practice. The focus areas for the DOH Collaborative are asthma, diabetes, and hypertension for adults, and asthma, medical homes, and obesity for children.In the same legislation, the DSHS was instructed along with the state Health Care Authority to develop a five-year plan by September 1, 2007, to change provider reimbursement protocols in order to reward quality and incorporate evidence-based standards.
Summary of Bill:
The Health Care Authority and the Department of Social and Health Services will design, oversee implementation, and evaluate one or more primary care medical home reimbursement pilot projects. The pilot projects will include public payors, private health carriers, and health care providers. The pilot projects will terminate July 1, 2013. The pilot projects will not constitute a violation of state or federal antitrust laws.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.