2607-S AMS HEA S5454.1

SHB 2607 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature questions whether managed care is the best medical financing system to reduce health care costs and retain quality.  Health care savings accounts may be an effective method to reduce health care costs, maintain quality, and enable patients to make choices within a fee-for-service health delivery mechanism.  The legislature would like to consider the cost, merit, utility, and effectiveness of health care savings accounts as an option in the basic health plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1)  By December 1, 1996, the administrator of the health care authority, in consultation with interested persons, shall submit to the house of representatives health care committee and the senate health and long-term care committee, a comprehensive plan, including projected costs, for the analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation of a health care savings account program as a benefit option for enrollees in the basic health plan.  The health care savings account program option must use a voucher system to purchase health care services on a fee-for-service basis.

    (2) The comprehensive plan must include:

    (a) An analysis of the cost, merit, and utility of a health care savings account program option within the basic health plan;

    (b) A detailed design of the proposed health care savings account program option;

    (c) A detailed plan and budget for implementing the health care savings account program option; and

    (d) A plan and budget to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptance of the health care savings account program option, including a comparison of the costs to both the state and enrollees of health care savings accounts and managed care plan options offered in the basic health plan.  The evaluation plan also must include, but not be limited to, an assessment of (i) the health status and satisfaction of enrollees; (ii) the use of preventive health services; and (iii) the extent of adverse selection and market segmentation.

    (3) If the program is approved and funded by the legislature, the administrator of the health care authority shall report annually to the appropriate committees of the legislature for the duration of the health care savings account program and shall submit a final report, including the program evaluation, within the time frame specified in the evaluation plan and approved by the legislature."

SHB 2607 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

    On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "enrollees;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and creating new sections."

EFFECT:  Inserts cost considerations as an explicit element for planning and consideration of the program.  Deletes the requirement that the program be implemented, subject to legislative approval and funding.

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