HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB
1956
As Reported By House Committee On:
Health Care
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to computerized medical insurance eligibility and beneficiary coverage information available to the department of social and health services from medical insurance payers.
Brief Description: Requiring computerized collection of health insurance coverage provided by certain state entities.
Sponsors: Representatives Cothern, Locke, Wolfe and Springer; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.
Brief History:
Reported by House Committee on:
Health Care, March 2, 1993, DP;
Appropriations, March 6, 1993, DP.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Campbell; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lisk; Mastin; Mielke; Morris; Thibaudeau; and Veloria.
Staff: Bill Hagens (786-7131).
Background: Presently, about 11 percent of the 500,000 medical assistance[1] recipients have some form of third-party health coverage. Federal law requires Medical Assistance to be the payer of last resort, thus all other insurance resources must be used before Medical Assistance can reimburse for coverage. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) considers the current methods of third-party coverage identification, e.g., client interview, target mailing, and Employment Security matching as inefficient.
HB 1956 is presented by DSHS to improve the process. It is estimated to save $3.1 million (General Fund-State) for the 1993-95 biennium. These savings have been assumed in Governor Gardner's budget proposal.
Summary of Bill: The Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) is required to provide computerized information to private insurers regarding client eligibility and coverage information. Private insurers are required to use this information to identify joint MAA/private insurance beneficiaries and report to the MAA. MAA shall use this information to improve accuracy of health insurance coverage data and promote improved coordination of benefits.
MAA and affected private insurers are required to develop the necessary data elements and related standards.
The information shall be up-dated at least semi-annually.
The information is protected against inappropriate release.
MAA is required to target those private insurers with a high probability of joint beneficiaries.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill passed.
Testimony For: This bill will streamline private/public coordination of benefits and save public dollars.
Testimony Against: None
Witnesses: Dan Dowler, Department of Social and Health Services (pro); and Greg Vigdor, Washington State Hospital Association (pro).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.
Staff: Maureen Morris (786-7152).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Health Care: No new changes were recommended.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill streamlines government and saves money. There is no active opposition to the bill.
Testimony Against: None.
Witnesses: Jim Petersen, Medical Assistance Administration, Department of Social and Health Services (pro).