BILL REQ. #:  S-0331.1 

Read first time 01/24/13.   Referred to Committee on Health Care .

     WHEREAS, The patient protection and affordable care act became law on March 23, 2010, enacting broad changes to every element of the nation's health care system over the course of a four-year period; and
     WHEREAS, While the patient protection and affordable care act will ensure that all persons in Washington have access to health care, concerns of increasing health care costs remain; and
     WHEREAS, Several state and public entities, including the newly created health benefit exchange, have different roles in implementing health care policy in the state. These entities are not required to coordinate their activities; and
     WHEREAS, Better coordination and oversight between the health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the office of the insurance commissioner, the department of health, and the department of social and health services will lead to efficiencies in health care delivery and ultimately cost savings to the state;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the senate of the state of Washington, the house of representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on health care oversight be established; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That membership of the joint select committee on health care oversight must consist of the following: (1) The chairs of the health care committees of the senate and the house of representatives, who must serve as cochairs; (2) four additional members of the senate, two each appointed by the leadership of the two largest political parties in the senate; and (3) four additional members of the house of representatives, two each appointed by the leadership of the two largest political parties in the house of representatives. The governor must be invited to appoint, as a liaison to the joint select committee, a person who must be a nonvoting member; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health care oversight must provide oversight between the health care authority, health benefit exchange, the office of the insurance commissioner, the department of health, and the department of social and health services. The goal must be to ensure that these entities are not duplicating their efforts and are working toward a goal of increased quality of services which will lead to reduced costs to the health care consumer. The joint select committee on health care oversight must coordinate with the research and data analysis division of the department of social and health services to monitor health care cost trends; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health care oversight must, as necessary, propose legislation to the health care committees of the legislature that aids in their coordination of activities and that leads to better quality and cost savings.