BILL REQ. #:  H-5069.1 

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 the employment status of basic health plan enrollees under this chapter. 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 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 the employment status of recipients of medical assistance under this chapter. 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 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.