SHB 1848

SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1848

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 Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, March 27, 2007

Brief Description: Requiring the department of social and health services and the health care authority to enter into data-sharing agreements with Oregon and Idaho agencies.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Curtis, Cody, Hinkle, Condotta, Orcutt, Fromhold, Moeller and Campbell).

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles, Marr and Parlette.

Background: Medical assistance is available to low-income state residents from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), primarily through the Medicaid program. It is also available for children through the Basic Health (BH) program, a state-sponsored program administered by the Health Care Authority (HCA).

Applicants for BH must be Washington residents. To prove residency, applicants must provide documentation that displays both the applicant's name and address, such as utility bills or rent receipts. If the applicant does not have a physical residence, he or she may submit a signed statement from a person who is providing temporary shelter. The HCA accepts driver's licenses, voter registration cards, car registrations, mortgage statements, benefits statements from the DSHS, or labels on federal income tax returns.

By statute, state general assistance applicants, including those applying for Medicaid or other state medical assistance programs, generally must be state residents and U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted aliens. Although specific requirements vary for medical assistance programs that are funded only by state funds, most programs require proof of residency and identity. The DSHS policies allow applicants to use any proof that is accurate and consistent. As examples, residency may be shown by rental agreements or statements from a landlord, mortgage papers, or utility bills. Identity may be proven by such records as driver's licenses or state identification cards, birth certificates, passports, school records, or alien registration cards.

Summary of Substitute Bill: DSHS and the HCA must enter into data-sharing agreements with the appropriate agencies in Oregon and Idaho to assure the valid residency of applicants for health care services in Washington. The agreements must include appropriate safeguards related to confidential information. The agencies must report on the status of data-sharing agreements to the Legislature by November 30, 2007.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: There have been instances of Medicaid enrollees receiving their services at our local pharmacies, and then presenting their Oregon identification to avoid paying the sales tax. This bill will have the agencies import records from our border states to verify residency in this state. The programs already check with our neighbor states for dual enrollment in the medical programs.