READ FIRST TIME 02/09/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to administration of the medicaid program; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   By December 1, 2010, the governor shall submit to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature a report that identifies the agency designated by the governor as the single state medicaid agency and a plan for transferring, as necessary, the functions related to that designation. In preparing the plan, the governor must consider, at a minimum, the following:
     (1) The terms and conditions of any federal medicaid waiver related to financing the basic health plan granted as a result of the request submitted to the federal department of health and human services by the department on January 19, 2010;
     (2) The policy goal of integrating medical, behavioral health, and long-term care services for individuals with co-occurring disorders or complex health needs;
     (3) The need for uniform policies, based on the best available scientific and medical evidence, across state purchased health care programs as provided in RCW 41.05.013;
     (4) The labor impacts, including the transfer of employees and the effect on current bargaining units and collective bargaining agreements.