BILL REQ. #:  S-4127.2 

READ FIRST TIME 01/29/10.   

     WHEREAS, The federal health reform bill has a broad scope and content that will affect nearly all areas of health care including insurance, public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, long-term care, public health efforts, and health care workforce planning; and
     WHEREAS, The complexity and breadth of the health reform bill will require strategic planning and extensive coordination to ensure timely and efficient implementation; and
     WHEREAS, Our state's executive branch must develop a strategic plan and comprehensive implementation plan that identifies dedicated resources, clear authority and accountability, a detailed timeline, a critical path analysis, resource and analysis needs, and a communication strategy; and
     WHEREAS, The legislature has an interest in providing a public forum for accountability of implementation efforts, timely identification and resolution of critical policy issues necessary for implementation, and identification of emerging issues that need statutory changes;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select committee on health reform implementation is created immediately; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health reform implementation shall be cochaired by the chairs of the health committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and leadership of the two largest caucuses in the Senate and the House of Representatives shall each appoint two additional legislators to serve on the joint select committee on health reform implementation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the cochairs may direct the formation of advisory committees, if desired, to focus on specific topic areas, such as insurance regulation, access and expansion of public and private programs, and workforce issues, and may invite interested stakeholders and additional experts to advise the joint select committee on health reform implementation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all participation in the joint select committee and any advisory committees is without compensation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health reform implementation expires on or before June 30, 2014.