Brief Description: Providing for evidence-based health services purchasing by state purchased health care programs.

Sponsors: Representatives Cody, Sommers, Morrell, Schual-Berke and Dickerson.

Hearing Date: 1/30/03

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The Health Care Authority (Authority) is responsible for studying all state-purchased health care, alternative health care delivery systems, and strategies for the procurement of health care services, and making recommendations aimed at minimizing the financial burden which health care poses on the state. The Authority is also expected to implement state initiatives, joint purchasing strategies, cost-control strategies, and techniques for efficient administration that have potential application to all state-purchased health services.

Summary of Bill:

The Health Care Authority is required to coordinate the development and implementation of uniform policies across all state-purchased health care programs related to purchasing, administrative efficiencies, improving quality of care, and reducing administrative burdens on participating health care providers. The policies will require uniform means of assessing health care services, monitoring several aspects of health services, developing common definitions of medical necessity, and common disease and demand management strategies.

The Secretaries of Health, Social and Health Services, Corrections, and the Director of Labor and Industries are required to cooperate, to the maximum extent possible, in developing and implementing the policies.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 24, 2003.

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