Title: An act relating to health care services.

Brief Description: Requiring applicants for state purchased health care benefits or uncompensated hospital care to identify the employer of the proposed beneficiary of the benefits or care.

Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Wood and Sells.

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/15/05, 2/24/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller and Schual-Berke.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

Many employers choose not to provide health care benefits for their employees. These employees either go without health insurance, apply for state purchased health care programs supported with public funds, or seek uncompensated care at hospitals.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Directs the Department of Social and Health Services, the Health Care Authority, and the Employment Security Department to prepare a report on the employment status of recipients of Medicaid and the Basic Health Plan and submit it to legislative committees.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill deletes the employer identification requirement for recipients of uncompensated care at hospitals and applicants for Medicaid and the Basic Health Plan.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 9, 2005.

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

Testimony For: The state needs to gather good data about the employment status of recipients of publicly funded programs.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Conway, prime sponsor; David West, Center for a Changing Workforce; Robert Stern, Washington State Labor Council; and Steve Ganu, Wal-Mart.

(Neutral) Dennis Martin, Health Care Authority.

(Unclear) Steven Wish, Department of Social and Health Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.