SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6532

                    As of January 28, 1998

Title:  An act relating to hospice care.

Brief Description:  Preventing health care entities that offer hospice care coverage from limiting other types of medical care.

Sponsors:  Senators Thibaudeau, Winsley, Prentice, Fairley and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  1/28/98.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff:  Jonathan Seib (786-7427)

Background:  Hospice care includes palliative care provided to a terminally ill person that alleviates physical symptoms, including pain, as well as alleviates the emotional and spiritual discomfort associated with dying. 

There is concern that where health insurance provides coverage for hospice care, it does so only if a person agrees to forgo curative care.

Summary of Bill:  All state purchased health care that provides coverage for hospice care may not require, as a condition of receiving that care, that a person agree not to receive other covered medical care.

Any insurer that provides coverage for hospice care may not require, as a condition of receiving that care, that a person agree not to receive other covered medical care.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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