BILL REQ. #:  S-1095.1 

Read first time 01/29/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to state employee health; amending RCW 41.05.540; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.05.540 and 2005 c 360 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The health care authority, in coordination with ((the department of personnel,)) the department of health, health plans participating in public employees' benefits board programs, and the University of Washington's center for health promotion, ((may create a worksite health promotion program to develop and implement initiatives designed to increase physical activity and promote improved self-care and engagement in health care decision-making among state employees.
     (2) The health care authority shall report to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2006, on progress in implementing, and evaluating the results of, the worksite health promotion program)) shall establish and maintain a state employee health program focused on reducing the health risks of state employees, dependents, and retirees enrolled in the public employees' benefits board. The program shall use public and private sector best practices to achieve goals of measurable health outcomes, measurable productivity improvements, positive impact on the cost of medical care, and positive return on investment.
     (2) The state employee health program shall:
     (a) Provide technical assistance and other services as needed to wellness staff in all state agencies and institutions of higher education;
     (b) Develop effective communication tools and ongoing training for wellness staff;
     (c) Contract with outside vendors for evaluation of program goals;
     (d) Strongly encourage the widespread completion of online health assessment tools for all state employees, dependents, and retirees. The health assessment tool must be voluntary and confidential. Health assessment data and claims data shall be used to:
     (i) Engage state agencies and institutions of higher education in providing evidence-based programs targeted at reducing identified health risks;
     (ii) Guide contracting with third-party vendors to implement behavior change tools for targeted high-risk populations; and
     (iii) Guide the benefit structure for state employees, dependents, and retirees to include covered services and medications known to manage and reduce health risks.
     (3) The health care authority shall report to the legislature in December 2008, 2009, and 2010 on outcome goals for the employee health program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The health care authority through the state employee health program shall create a state employee health demonstration project in four state agencies: The department of health, department of personnel, department of natural resources, and department of labor and industries. Demonstration project agencies shall operate employee health programs for their employees in collaboration with the state employee health program. Agency demonstration project employee health programs:
     (a) Shall include but are not limited to the following key elements: Outreach to all staff with efforts made to reach the largest percentage of employees possible; awareness-building information that promotes health; motivational opportunities that encourage employees to improve their health; behavior change opportunities that demonstrate and support behavior change; and tools to improve employee health care decisions;
     (b) Must have wellness staff with direct accountability to agency senior management;
     (c) Shall initiate and maintain employee health programs using current and emerging best practices in the field of health promotion, including at least one hour during the work week dedicated to a health promoting activity;
     (d) May offer employees such incentives as cash for completing health risk assessments, free preventive screenings, training in behavior change tools, improved nutritional standards on agency campuses, bike racks, walking maps, on-site weight reduction programs, and regular communication to promote personal health awareness.
     (2) The state employee health program shall evaluate each of the four programs separately and compare outcomes for each of them with the entire state employee population to assess effectiveness of the programs. Specifically, outcomes evaluated shall include but not be limited to the following areas: Physical activity, food selection, receiving appropriate preventive screenings and flu shots, tobacco use, and completion of health risk assessments. The state employee health program shall report to the legislature in December 2008, 2009, and 2010 on the demonstration project.
     (3) This section expires June 30, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of one million three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, from the general fund to the health care authority for the purposes of section 2 of this act.