FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2411

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 222 L 90

BYRepresentatives Braddock, Brooks and Prentice; by request of Health Care Authority

Amending health care authority provisions.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1988, to address a financial crisis regarding public employee benefits, the Legislature passed the Health Care Reform Act, which created the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA). The HCA's two primary responsibilities are to develop and manage insurance benefits for state employees, retirees, and their families; and to study ways for the state to become a prudent purchaser of health care services.

As the HCA was developed, agency officials identified several areas of law that needed change including updating language, eliminating outdated requirements, clarifying the duties of the agency, modifying employee/spouse conversion provisions, and providing safeguards from public disclosure of certain proprietary information and bid related data.

Presently, the Department of Health is responsible for reviewing proposed mandated health benefits and mandated health offerings.

SUMMARY:

Technical changes are made to the Health Care Authority (HCA) enabling statute, including the listing of the newly created Department of Health as a cooperating agency.

The requirement that contribution rates of newly enrolled local entities cannot reflect the benefit of any surpluses accrued prior to their entry is eliminated.  The role of the HCA is clarified regarding utilization of health data and the application process regarding local entities.  The HCA is authorized to appoint a technical advisory committee and to promulgate rules.

Language is added to include employees and spouses in the conversion entitlement.  The HCA is authorized to withhold from public disclosure certain proprietary information and data contained in responses to requests for bids.  The responsibility for reviewing mandated health benefits and mandated health offerings is transferred from the Department of Health to the Washington State Health Care Authority.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    46     0 (Senate amended)

      House 94   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  Presently, the Department of Health has the authority to review and comment on proposed mandated health benefits.  HB 2411 would transfer that function to the Washington Health Care Authority.  The effect of the veto is to keep this function with the Department of Health.  (See VETO MESSAGE)