HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2226

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to residency requirements for subsidized enrollees in the basic health plan.

Brief Description:  Establishing residency requirements for subsidized enrollees in the basic health plan.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dyer, Cody, Cooke, Crouse, Sheahan, Clements, Alexander, Wensman, Sehlin, Carlson, Talcott, D. Schmidt, Benson, Regala, Tokuda, Anderson, Wood, Hatfield, Kessler, Blalock, Backlund and Kenney.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  3/4/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Skinner, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Parlette; Sherstad; Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Conway.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  The Basic Health Plan (BHP) was created in 1987 as a state-administered program that allows state residents to enroll in one of several privately administered managed care health plans, all offering the same schedule of basic health services.  The plan is administered by the State Health Care Authority (HCA) on a subsidized and nonsubsidized basis.  Presently, there are 126,500 subsidized BHP enrollees, with roughly 69,000 interested persons on a waiting list; there are also 18,400 nonsubsidized enrollees.  The BHP schedule of benefits must include  "physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, prescription drugs and medications, and other services that may be necessary for basic health care. . . ."  Consistent with agency appropriation, the HCA administrator has added limited  ". . .chemical dependency services, mental health services and organ transplant services. . ."  to the schedule.

To be eligible for the subsidized BHP, one must  be ineligible for Medicare, have gross family income at the time of enrollment that does not exceed twice the federal poverty level, and reside in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan.

Presently, there is no minimal period of residency required prior to BHP eligibility.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  To be eligible for the subsidized BHP a person must have resided for at least 11 months in an area of the state served by a managed health care system participating in the plan; however, seasonal workers, as defined by rule, are exempt from this requirement.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Seasonal worker exemption is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will help reduce the immigration state solely for the purpose of getting health care.

Testimony Against:  None presented against the bill as substituted.

Testified:  Rogelio Riojas, Sea-Mar Community Health Center.