S-4497.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6516
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators West, Talmadge, Moyer, Snyder and Anderson
Read first time 01/26/94. Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to the award for excellence in health care; adding new sections to chapter 43.06 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the critical importance of ensuring that all Washington residents have access to quality and affordable health care. The legislature further recognizes that substantial improvements can be made in health care delivery when providers, including health care facilities, are encouraged to continuously strive for excellence in quality management practices, value, and consumer satisfaction. The legislature finds that when centers of quality are highlighted and honored publicly they become examples for other health care providers to emulate, thereby further promoting the implementation of improved health care delivery processes.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. There is created an award to honor and recognize cost-effective and quality health care services. This award shall be known as the "Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care."
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The governor shall annually identify and honor those health care providers practicing in the state of Washington who exhibit exceptional quality and value in the delivery of health care. The selection shall be based upon the actual delivery of health care services by the provider and shall include such factors as consumer satisfaction, quality measurement, cost-efficient practices, creative and innovative delivery practices, leadership, and other factors that the governor deems appropriate. The governor may appoint an advisory committee to assist in the selection of honorees if necessary.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The office of the governor shall produce an application booklet that is sufficiently detailed as to require careful self-examination of the practices and processes utilized by the health care provider. The criteria for judging the award application will include analysis of:
(1) Consumer satisfaction - Is quality defined by the consumer?
(2) Quality measurement - Is there accurate and timely data to prove that the level of quality has improved significantly?
(3) Cost-efficient practices - Has the true cost of services been reduced and not hidden? How much of the cost savings are being passed on to the consumer?
(4) Creative and innovative delivery practices - Has the provider developed and implemented a new and better process for delivering health care?
(5) Leadership - Has the provider clearly defined quality excellence goals in health care and developed realistic methods for achieving these goals? Has the provider helped to educate outside providers and groups about quality excellence in health care? and
(6) Other factors that the governor deems appropriate.
The application must be completed and submitted to the office of the governor to be considered for the award. The application booklet shall contain additional information including guidelines and examples for assessing and improving quality and value in health care delivery. All established health care providers and facilities that provide health care services in the state of Washington are eligible to apply for the award.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 43.06 RCW.
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