FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1082

                          C 79 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing nondisclosure of trade information by the health care authority and state employees benefits board.

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Braddock, Moyer, Sprenkle and Orr).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  The Health Care Authority (HCA) administers the public employees benefit program.  It currently maintains contracts with eight medical health maintenance organizations, one dental prepaid plan, four uniform medical plan vendors and one uniform dental plan vendor.  Each carrier or vendor contracting with the HCA must present reports on benefit utilization and cost data, some of which are considered proprietary by the vendor or contractor.  The State Employees Benefits Board (SEBB), which advises the HCA, also has occasion to review sensitive cost data.  Inappropriate release of this information might adversely affect the competitiveness of the provider.

Summary:  The HCA may exempt benefit utilization and cost data from public disclosure and the SEBB may hold executive sessions when it must review and discuss such data.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  91   0

Senate 46   0

Effective:    July 28, 1991