H-4929 _______________________________________________
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4443
_______________________________________________
Passed Legislature - 1990 E1
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 First Special Session
By Representatives Braddock, Morris, Jones, Vekich, Rector, Baugher, Ballard, Spanel, Wood, Wineberry, Fuhrman, Pruitt, Walker, Rasmussen, Tate, Rayburn, Youngsman, Bennett, Moyer, R. Fisher, Wolfe, Jesernig, Holland, Cole, Brumsickle, Dorn, Smith, Forner, McLean, Jacobsen, D. Sommers, Nealey, May, Phillips, S. Wilson and Anderson
Read first time 3/20/90.
WHEREAS, The cost and availability of health care services is of critical importance to the citizens of Washington; and
WHEREAS, The cost of health care services is increasing at a rate that threatens the health care of all of our citizens and the financial stability of individuals, businesses, and the public sector; and
WHEREAS, Many people are without access to health care and many people have only a limited access to even the most basic health care services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a commission on health care cost control and access is established. The commission will consist of seventeen members appointed in the following manner:
(1) Three members shall be from the Senate, to include the chair of the Senate Health and Long-term Care Committee, one member of the majority party caucus, and one member of the minority party caucus, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;
(2) Three members shall be from the House of Representatives, to include the chair of the House of Representatives Health Care Committee, one member of the majority party caucus, and one member of the minority party caucus to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(3) Two members shall represent the business community, one of which shall represent small business, to be appointed by the Governor;
(4) Two members shall represent employee organizations, to be appointed by the Governor;
(5) Two members shall represent health providers, to be appointed by the Governor;
(6) Two members shall represent the public at large, with no connection to the health care industry, to be appointed by the Governor;
(7) One member shall represent health care service contractors, to be appointed by the Governor;
(8) One member shall represent senior citizens, with no connection to the health industry, to be appointed by the Governor; and
(9) One member shall represent state government, to be appointed by the Governor.
The Governor shall appoint a member of the commission to act as chairperson; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Consistent with funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the commission may hire staff or contract for professional assistance. State agencies, the Senate, and the House of Representatives may provide staff support upon request of the commission. The commission may establish ad hoc technical advisory committees as necessary and may reimburse committee members for related travel expenses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, In the conduct of its business, the commission shall have access to all health data available by statute to the secretary of health. The secretary shall provide the commission with all requested health data or other relevant information maintained by the department in a timely and easy-to-comprehend manner; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their service, except that travel expenses shall be reimbursed, from whatever funds are made available to the commission, pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and for members of the legislature appointed to the commission, travel expenses shall be reimbursed pursuant to RCW 44.04.120; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall, by December 1, 1990, identify how the state could use its own health care purchases, and improve its coordination with private health care purchasers, to decrease the rate of health care cost inflation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall, by December 1, 1991:
(1) Identify, with the help of the private sector, methods to reduce and control health costs;
(2) Identify appropriate and effective health services, develop incentives to adopt the use of those services, and develop incentives to effect preventive and public health interventions;
(3) Recommend changes relating to medical malpractice and liability insurance to decrease health costs, increase health access, increase the efficiency and safety of health provider practices, and provide needed coverage for injured consumers; and
(4) Recommend plans for ensuring access to health care for all people. These plans should include a definition of the responsibilities and funding participation of individuals, the public, and employers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the commission shall submit an initial report to the Legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 1990; shall submit recommendations to the Governor and the legislature on or before December 1, 1991; and shall submit a final report to the Legislature and the Governor on or before November 1, 1992. The commission shall cease to exist on December 1, 1992.