HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2122
As Passed House:
March 13, 2003
Title: An act relating to simplifying administrative procedures for state-purchased health care programs.
Brief Description: Simplifying administrative procedures for state-purchased health care programs.
Sponsors: By Representatives Schual-Berke, Benson, Cody, Campbell and Kenney.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care: 3/4/03 [DP];
Appropriations: 3/8/03 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/13/03, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Bill |
• Requires state-purchased health care programs to assess strategies to improve their business practices and report to the Legislature. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Sehlin, Ranking Minority Member; Pearson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Conway, Cox, DeBolt, Dunshee, Grant, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDonald, McIntire, Miloscia, Pflug, Ruderman, Schual-Berke, Sump and Talcott.
Staff: Amy Hanson (786-7118).
Background:
The state is a major purchaser of health care services in Washington. The Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Labor and Industries, and the Health Care Authority all purchase health care services for the clients they serve. If state agencies involved in the purchase of health care services do not operate efficiently and effectively they can negatively affect health care providers and health carriers.
Summary of Bill:
The Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Labor and Industries, and the Health Care Authority are required to assess strategies to improve core services, streamline current administrative practices, establish clear expectations, develop consistency with national and regional standards, and standardize similarities between agencies. The agencies are required to report to the Legislature by December 1, 2003, on their activities related to implementing these activities. By December 1, 2004, the agencies will take steps to implement strategies that are feasible to implement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (Health Care) Anything the state can do to simplify its business practices related to purchasing health care services will help providers and health carriers.
Testimony For: (Appropriations) None.
Testimony Against: (Health Care) None.
Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.
Testified: (Health Care) (In support) Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.
(Concerns) L. Mike Freeman, Citizen Advocate.
Testified: (Appropriations) None.