[atlas:bill]

WHEREAS, The availability and affordability of quality health care is of critical importance to the well-being of Washington residents; and

WHEREAS, After remaining stable for several years, the cost of health care is increasing at a disproportionally high rate; and

WHEREAS, These increasing costs are placing quality care beyond the reach of a growing number of Washington citizens, and contributing to health care expenditures that strain the resources of individuals, businesses, and public programs; and

WHEREAS, Efforts by public and private purchasers to control expenditures, and the strain these efforts place on the stability of the health care work force and viability of health care facilities, threaten to reduce access to quality care for all residents of the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a blue ribbon commission on health care cost and access be established. The commission will consist of the following eleven members:

(1) Four members from the House of Representatives, to include one member of each party caucus from the Health Care Committee, and one other member of each party caucus from the Appropriations Committee, to be appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives;

(2) Four members from the Senate, to include one member of each party caucus from the Health and Long-Term Care Committee, and one other member of each party caucus from the Ways and Means Committee, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) The Insurance Commissioner; and

(4) Two members appointed by the Governor, one of whom the Governor shall designate as the chair; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That consistent with funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the commission may hire staff or contract for professional assistance. State agencies, the Senate, and the House of Representatives may provide staff support upon request of the commission. The commission shall establish ad hoc technical advisory committees as appropriate, to include representatives of business, employee organizations, health care providers, drug manufacturers, public health officials, health carriers, state agencies, health policy experts, consumer organizations, the general public, and any others with an interest in or expertise regarding the work of the commission. The commission may reimburse committee members for related travel expenses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That in the conduct of its business, the commission shall have access to all health-related data available to state agencies by statute. The head of each agency shall provide the commission with all requested data or other relevant information maintained by the agency in a timely and easy-to-comprehend manner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their service, except that travel expenses shall be reimbursed, from whatever funds are made available to the commission, pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and for members of the legislature appointed to the commission, travel expenses shall be reimbursed pursuant to RCW 44.04.120; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall:

(1) Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the health care financing and delivery system in this state, including, among other things, the adequacy and stability of the work force, the financial viability of health care facilities, and the extent to which public programs and private insurers do, and will continue to, provide access to all residents of the state to necessary, appropriate, cost-effective, and quality health care;

(2) Evaluate alternatives to address the problems identified in the comprehensive assessment, including, among other things, modifying the structure, administration and funding of state programs, changing state insurance regulations, changing the way the state educates and regulates health care professionals, changing the way the state regulates health care facilities, and making better use of public and private resources to prevent disease and injury or otherwise reduce the need and demand for costly health care services; and

(3) Recommend specific actions to be taken by state agencies, the legislature, and others to implement the preferred alternatives in order to assure the long-term stability of the state's health care system and the on-going access of all Washington residents to adequate and affordable health care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit an initial report to the legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 2001; shall submit recommendations to the legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 2002; and shall submit a final report to the legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 2003. The commission shall cease to exist on December 1, 2003.