SB 6083

SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6083

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, February 28, 2007
Ways & Means, March 5, 2007

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6083 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles and Parlette.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6083 as recommended by Committee on Health & Long-Term Care be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Background: The University of Washington library system has an extensive collection of medical journals and other scientific and research based information online and in other forms which are available to physicians with teaching appointments at the university. Washington physicians and other health care professionals who do not have teaching appointments at the University of Washington do not currently have access to these resources.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): Washington physicians, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, osteopathic physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, optometrists, pharmacists naturopath, and podiatric physicians will pay a fee of twenty-five dollars in addition to their annual licensing fee to the Department of Health. DOH will provide this fee to the University of Washington library system to provide online and other access for all licensed physicians to medical journals and related material housed, online, written or otherwise in the University of Washington library system. DOH will provide information to licensed physicians in the annual licensing process.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): In addition to physicians, other health professionals (osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, osteopathic physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, optometrists, pharmacists naturopath, and podiatric physicians) will pay an additional $25 annual fee to Department of Health for access to the University of Washington Health Sciences Library.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Health & Long-Term Care): PRO: So much information is available now electronically which saves clinicians a lot of time. Not sure the proposed fee would cover costs to expand access, but we will look into it. We appreciate the attention to this issue.

Persons Testifying (Health & Long-Term Care): PRO: Sherrilynne Fuller, University of Washington; Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Recommended Substitute (Ways & Means): PRO: The Washington State Medical Association thinks it is a great idea to provide access such as this, and is willing to pay an additional $25 per license for it, but would not be supportive of including an annual inflationary increase to the fee.

OTHER: The cost of online access to materials such these has been increasing by 8-10 percent annually. There should be some provision for annual fee increases in order for revenues to keep up with those costs.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association.

OTHER: Sherilynne Fuller, University of Washington.