HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1982

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to defining basic health plan eligibility for persons in institutions.

Brief Description:  Limiting basic health plan eligibility for persons in institutions.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by  Representatives Dyer, Cody and Backlund; by request of Health Care Authority).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/27/97, 3/3/97 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/13/97, 95‑0.

Senate Amended.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Skinner, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Conway; Parlette; Sherstad; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  A Basic Health Plan (BHP) enrollee is defined as an individual not eligible for medicare, who resides in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan, and whose gross family income at the time of enrollment does not exceed twice the federal poverty level.

This definition does not exclude persons confined or residing in a government-operated institution.  The administrator of the BHP is concerned that if such institutions begin enrolling confined persons, there will be a substantial increase in health service utilization and related premium costs.

Summary of Bill:  The definition of BHP enrollee is amended to exclude a person confined or residing in a government-operated institution, unless eligibility criteria adopted by the administrator is met.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Requires the State Health Care Authority to establish, in consultation with appropriate state and local government agencies, a criteria defining eligibility for persons confined or residing in government-operated institutions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 19, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill is necessary to ensure that the appropriate use of BHP resources.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dennis Martin and Linda Melton, Health Care Authority (pro).