FINAL BILL REPORT

ESSB 5145

C 1 L 16 E 1

FULL VETO

VETO OVERRIDE

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the health technology clinical committee membership and rotating experts.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Dammeier, Frockt, Becker, Bailey, Rivers and Brown).

Senate Committee on Health Care

House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Background: The Washington State Health Technology Clinical Committee (HTCC) was established in 2006 to include 11 members appointed by the administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). The committee must include the following:

• six practicing and licensed physicians or osteopathic physicians; and

• five other practicing licensed health professionals who use health technology in their scope of practice.

At least two members of HTCC must have professional experience treating women, children, elderly persons, and people with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Members of HTCC must not contract with or be employed by a health technology manufacturer or participating agency for 18 months before their appointment and throughout their term. Members are immune from civil liability for any official acts performed in good faith as part of HTCC. Members are compensated for participation in the work of HTCC.

The administrator of HCA selects health technologies for review by HTCC. HTCC may also select health technologies for review, pursuant to a petition submitted by an interested party. Upon the selection of a health technology for review, the administrator of HCA contracts for an evidence-based assessment of the technology's safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness.

For each health technology selected for review, HTCC determines:

• the conditions, if any, under which the health technology will be included as a covered benefit in health care programs of participating agencies; and

• if covered, the criteria which the participating agency administering the program must use to decide whether the technology is medically necessary or proper, and necessary treatment.

Summary: At least one member of the HTCC must be appointed by the Washington state medical association or the Washington state osteopathic medical association.

Any rotating clinical experts selected to advise the HTCC must be nonvoting members.

Votes on Final Passage:

2015 Regular Session

2016 Regular Session

Votes on Veto Override:

First Special Session