READ FIRST TIME 02/08/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to health care services; adding a new section to chapter 70.47 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 70.47 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The health care authority, in coordination with the department of social and health services, shall prepare a report on basic health plan enrollees under this chapter who are employed by any employer with thirty or more employees who are either basic health plan enrollees or medical assistance recipients. The report shall include the following composite information:
     (a) The number of employees by employer;
     (b) The employee size of the employer;
     (c) The number of employees by industry type;
     (d) The number of hours worked by employees;
     (e) The number of employees with multiple employers;
     (f) The number of employees who were receiving any government assistance prior to being employed;
     (g) The length of time the employee has been employed;
     (h) The number of employees who chose the basic health plan instead of insurance coverage offered by their employer, and why they did so; and
     (i) The number of employees referred to the basic health plan by their employer and the number referred by others, including public agencies, relatives, or friends.
     (2) The report must be structured so as to identify seasonal variations that may impact the composite information in the report.
     (3) The report must include recommendations from the department of social and health services for strategies to reduce state costs associated with providing medical assistance coverage to individuals who are employed on a full-time and year-round basis. The report shall be prepared in consultation with the health care authority and other interested organizations. The following principles shall guide development of the recommendations:
     (a) Employers who have the financial ability to contribute to the cost of health care coverage for their employees should provide such coverage; and
     (b) Reduction of state costs should not come at the expense of depriving low-wage employees of health care coverage.
     (4) The report must be delivered electronically to appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives annually, commencing no later than November 15, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department of social and health services, in coordination with the health care authority, shall prepare a report on recipients of medical assistance under this chapter who are employed by any employer with thirty or more employees who are either basic health plan enrollees or medical assistance recipients. The report shall include the following composite information:
     (a) The number of employees by employer;
     (b) The employee size of the employer;
     (c) The number of employees by industry type;
     (d) The number of hours worked by employees;
     (e) The number of employees with multiple employers;
     (f) The number of employees who were receiving any government assistance prior to being employed;
     (g) The length of time the employee has been employed;
     (h) The number of employees who chose receipt of medical assistance instead of insurance coverage offered by their employer, and why they did so; and
     (i) The number of employees referred to medical assistance by their employer and the number referred by others, including public agencies, relatives, or friends.
     (2) The report must be structured so as to identify seasonal variations that may impact the composite information in the report.
     (3) The report must include recommendations from the department of social and health services for strategies to reduce state costs associated with providing medical assistance coverage to individuals who are employed on a full-time and year-round basis. The report shall be prepared in consultation with the health care authority and other interested organizations. The following principles shall guide development of the recommendations:
     (a) Employers who have the financial ability to contribute to the cost of health care coverage for their employees should provide such coverage; and
     (b) Reduction of state costs should not come at the expense of depriving low-wage employees of health care coverage.
     (4) The report must be delivered electronically to appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives annually, commencing no later than November 15, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2006, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.