S-1089.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5829

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice, Patterson and Swecker

Read first time 02/05/2001.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Relating to cooperative activities by local governments.

    AN ACT Relating to cooperative activities by local governments; amending RCW 70.44.450; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that maintaining the viability of health care service delivery throughout the state of Washington is a primary goal of state health policy.  The legislature also finds that many hospitals located in Washington are operated by public hospital districts authorized under chapter 70.44 RCW, which are municipal corporations governed by publicly elected commissioners and supported by property taxes levied on the property within the districts.  The legislature declares that public hospital districts should be permitted to use their tax and other limited financial resources in the most efficient manner possible and that it is not cost-effective, practical, or desirable to provide quality health and hospital care services in areas served by public hospital districts in competition with one another.  It is the intent of this act to foster the development of cooperative and collaborative arrangements among public hospital districts by specifically authorizing cooperative agreements and contracts for these entities under the interlocal cooperation act.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 70.44.450 and 1992 c 161 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    In addition to other powers granted to public hospital districts by chapter 39.34 RCW, ((rural)) public hospital districts may enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with other ((rural)) public hospital districts in order to provide for the health care needs of the people served by the hospital districts.  These agreements and contracts are specifically authorized to include:

    (1) Allocation of health care services among the different facilities owned and operated by the districts;

    (2) Combined purchases and allocations of medical equipment and technologies;

    (3) Joint agreements and contracts for health care service delivery and payment with public and private entities; and

    (4) Other cooperative arrangements consistent with the intent of chapter 161, Laws of 1992.  The provisions of chapter 39.34 RCW shall apply to the development and implementation of the cooperative contracts and agreements.

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