HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2087
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to certification and recertification of health care facilities.
Brief Description: Regarding the certification and recertification of health care facilities.
Sponsors: Representatives Fromhold, Hinkle, Cody and Moeller.
Brief History:
Appropriations: 2/15/07, 2/21/07 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 31 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Dunshee, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Chandler, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Ericks, Fromhold, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunt, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Kretz, Linville, McDermott, McDonald, McIntire, Morrell, Pettigrew, Schual-Berke, Seaquist, P. Sullivan and Walsh.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Buri and Dunn.
Staff: Bernard Dean (786-7130).
Background:
The Department of Health (DOH) receives funding from the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) to certify health care facilities for Medicare and Medicaid
reimbursement.
The DOH's certification work includes complaint investigations, surveys for recertification of
existing Medicare facilities, and initial certifications of new facilities. The facilities covered
by that work include hospitals, home health agencies, rehabilitation services, rural health
clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and kidney dialysis centers.
Under an agreement with the federal government, the CMS establishes four priority levels of
certification activity to be done under the DOH's grant agreement. The CMS establishes a set
budget allocation for each state. The DOH then identifies the amount of work it can do based
on the budget allocation and priorities set by the CMS.
Four of the six types of facilities (home health, hospice, hospitals, and ambulatory surgery
centers) covered by the program have the option to obtain their initial federal certification
survey through independent accrediting organizations.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The DOH may assess fees for the certification and recertification of health care facilities
when the federal government does not provide sufficient funding to cover all certifications
and recertifications.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The authorization for the DOH to receive state appropriations to fund facility certifications
and recertifications 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.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill supports the opening of new dialysis facilities. After dialysis clinics are
approved through the certificate of need process they need to be certified for Medicare by the
Department of Health (DOH). The DOH has prioritized their workload for 2007 and
certifying new dialysis clinics is at the bottom of the list. There is a concern that new dialysis
centers will not be certified or be able to open. There is a facility in Vancouver that was
constructed, but sits unused because they haven't received Medicare certification. This bill
would give the DOH an opportunity to solve this problem by either assessing a fee or
receiving state appropriations.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Jean Stevens, Fresenius Medical Care-Kidney Dialysis; and Robin Appleford, DaVita, Incorporated.