Title: An act relating to health care services.

Brief Description: Reporting on the employment status of recipients of medicaid and the basic health plan.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Conway, Cody, Sells, Dickerson, Morrell, Simpson, Schual-Berke, Hasegawa, Chase and Santos).

Brief History:

Health Care: 1/31/06, 2/2/06 [DP];

Appropriations: 2/4/06 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/14/06, 94-3.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Lantz, Moeller and Schual-Berke.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Alexander and Bailey.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 30 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Chandler, Clements, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, P. Sullivan, Talcott and Walsh.

Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).

Background:

The Legislature has expanded Medicaid eligibility and established the Basic Health Plan (Plan) to provide health care coverage for low income working families. There is limited information collected on the employers of low income workers who enroll in Medicaid and the Plan.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The Health Care Authority and the Department of Social and Health Services will submit a report to the Legislature on the employment status of enrollees of the Basic Health Plan and Medicaid.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For: (Health Care) This information should be collected so we know why and for how long low income employees are receiving benefits from these public programs.

(With concerns) Gathering this information on small employers might jeopardize the identities of their employees.

Testimony For: (Appropriations) We supported last year's version of this bill, and support this year's version too. About one-half of the story is being told about this subject in the media, and we would like a thorough, transparent study to clear up misperceptions. We employ a lot of transitional employees who are leaving state assistance, providing a service to the state just as the state is also providing a service to us.

Testimony Against: (Health Care) None.

Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Testifying: (Health Care) (In support) Representative Conway, prime sponsor; David West, Center for a Changing Workforce; and Steve Gano, Wal-Mart.

(With concerns) Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; and Roger Gantz, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) Steve Gano, Wal-Mart.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Health Care) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations) None.