Title: An act relating to repealing cost-sharing in medical programs.

Brief Description: Repealing cost-sharing in medical programs.

Sponsors: Representative Clibborn by request of Governor Gregoire .

Brief History:

Health Care: 1/12/06, 1/13/06 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Clibborn, Green, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Bailey and Condotta.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to establish co-payment, deductible, co-insurance requirements, and other cost sharing requirements, such as premiums for participation in Medicaid and other state-funded medical programs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The ability to charge premiums from recipients of medical care services is removed for children in households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The ability of the Department of Social and Health Services to require cost-sharing requirements such as premiums for recipients of Medicaid and other state-funded medical programs is removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Charging premiums for children in households with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level will result in families dropping out of publically funded health programs and children going without needed health care.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Clibborn, prime sponsor; Mark Rupp, Office of the Governor; Roger Gantz, Department of Social and Health Services; Liz Arjun, Children's Alliance; Beth Harvey, Washington American Academy of Pediatrics; Shawn Cantrell, Washington Community Action; Sharon Case, Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers and Community Health Network of Washington; Len McComb, Washington State Hospital Association; and Don Sloma, Washington Health Foundation.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.