S-3691               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6331

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Bauer, Kreidler, Wojahn, Moore and Zimmerman

Read first time 1/19/88 and referred to Committee on Health Care & Corrections.

AN ACT Relating to hemophiliacs; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that there are victims of the disease of hemophilia in this state and that hemophilia is generally excluded from any private medical insurance coverage except in an employment situation under group coverage which is usually ended upon termination of employment.  The legislature further finds that there is a need for a state-wide program for the medical care of persons with hemophilia who are unable to pay for their necessary medical services, wholly or in part.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

          (1) "Eligible individual" means a resident of the state of Washington over the age of twenty years.

          (2) "Hemophilia services" means a program for the coverage of the cost of blood transfusions and the use of blood and synthetic derivatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Within the limit of funds expressly appropriated and available for medical assistance to hemophiliacs, hemophilia services under this chapter shall be made available to eligible persons as recommended by the medical advisory committee created under section 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     A medical advisory committee is created to recommend eligible individuals to be recipients of medical assistance pursuant to section 3 of this act.  The committee shall consist of persons involved with the care and treatment of hemophilia who shall be chosen by the secretary of the department of social and health services or the secretary's designee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Payments under this chapter shall not be made for any services that are available to the recipient under any other private, state, or federal programs or under other contractual or legal entitlements.  This chapter is not intended to limit in any way state participation in any federal program for medical care of persons with hemophilia.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the department of social and human services crippled children division for payments for hemophilia services under this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.