FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5689

C 56 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the scope and costs of the diabetes epidemic in Washington.

Sponsors: Senators Becker, Keiser, Dammeier, Frockt, Jayapal and McAuliffe.

Senate Committee on Health Care

House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware that they are at high risk. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Pregnant women who never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes.

In the 2013 operating budget, the Legislature included a requirement that the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Health Care Authority (HCA) work together to produce a report on the epidemic of diabetes in the state. The agencies were required to report on the number of lives impacted by diabetes in the state and the financial impacts, including impacts on the various programs administered by them. It also requested an assessment of the programs and benefits aimed at preventing or controlling the disease, and a description of the coordination between them. Finally, it sought recommendations for policies and actions to battle diabetes, with budget estimates.

The resulting report, The Diabetes Epidemic & Action Report, was produced in December 2014. It provided several recommendations aimed at slowing and managing the diabetes epidemic and included the financial costs of diabetes in the state and the services and programs addressing diabetes in Washington State.

Summary: HCA, DSHS, and DOH must collaborate to identify goals and benchmarks while also developing individual agency plans to reduce the incidence of diabetes in Washington, improve diabetes care, and better control medical complications and financial impacts associated with the disease.

By December 31, 2019, and every second year thereafter, HCA, DSHS, and DOH must submit a coordinated report to the Governor and Legislature on the following:

• the financial impact and reach of diabetes of all types on programs administered by these agencies and individuals enrolled in those programs;

• the benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at controlling diabetes and preventing the disease, including the source of funding directed to the agency for programs and activities aimed at reaching those with diabetes;

• the level of coordination existing between the agencies on activities, programmatic activities, and messaging on managing, treating, or preventing all forms of diabetes and its complications;

• their detailed action plans for battling diabetes with a range of actionable items for consideration by the Legislature; and

• estimated costs of implementing their detailed action plans.

Votes on Final Passage:

2015 Regular Session

2016 Regular Session