Z-0861.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 1832

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

 

By Representative Dellwo; by request of Health Services Commission

 

Read first time 02/10/95.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

 

Modifying total quality management provisions.



    AN ACT Relating to total quality management; amending RCW 43.72.070; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 43.72.070 and 1993 c 492 s 409 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) To ensure the highest quality health services at the lowest total cost, the commission shall establish a total quality management system of continuous quality improvement.  Such endeavor shall be based upon the recognized quality science for continuous quality improvement.  The commission shall impanel a committee composed of persons from the private sector and related sciences who have broad knowledge and successful experiences in continuous quality improvement and total quality management applications.  It shall be the responsibility of the committee to develop quality standards for ((a Washington state health services supplier certification process)) certified health plans and recommend such standards, and the process for assuring that plans meet such standards, to the commission for review and adoption.  Once adopted, the commission shall establish a schedule, with full compliance no later than ((July 1, 1996)) four years from the date of the plan's certification by the office of the insurance commissioner to provide the uniform benefits package, whereby all health ((service providers and health service facilities)) plans shall ((be certified prior to providing uniform benefits package services)) meet the requirements of the commission's quality assurance and improvement rules and be accredited by an approved quality review organization.

    (2) The commission may delegate to the department of health, and subject to available funds and staffing, the department will carry out, activities necessary to implement the total quality management program developed by the commission.  These activities include, but are not limited to, the following;

    (a) Review and approval of the descriptions and timetable of the plans' quality improvement programs;

    (b) Participation in the accreditation surveys and monitoring of the plan's progress in achieving accreditation;

    (c) Oversight of approved quality review organizations;

    (d) Recommendations to the commission and the office of the insurance commissioner as to whether the plan should be prohibited from accepting additional enrollment or should have its certification removed when a plan encounters difficulties achieving or maintaining accreditation; and

    (e) Technical assistance to health plans related to their quality improvement activities and the accreditation process.

    (3) The department of health may establish rules, as necessary, to carry out its responsibilities delegated to it under this section.

    (4) The commission may also request that the department of health provide recommendations to the commission for the on-going development of a total quality improvement system.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.

 


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