S-1419               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5711

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Wojahn

Read first time 2/3/89 and referred to Committee on  Health Care & Corrections.

AN ACT Relating to the establishment of a health resources panel; and adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds and declares that increasing demands are being placed upon public and private resources available for the purchase of health care services; that these resources are not sufficient to provide funding for all services which may be desirable; that the use of these resources should be subject to due consideration of ethical values, public health care needs, and a fair distribution of available resources across society; and that a joint initiative of the public and private sectors will be necessary to address these concerns.

          (2) In recognition of the findings expressed in this section, there is created a health resources panel to operate under the direction of the administrator.  The panel established under this section shall be comprised of such individuals as the administrator shall select, including representatives of both the public and private sectors who are knowledgeable and experienced in health policy, health care financing, ethics, and other appropriate disciplines.  The panel established under this section shall work to establish periodic conferences, seminars, discussion groups, and other appropriate functions, to be jointly sponsored by public and private sector organizations.  These periodic conferences shall be directed toward the discussion and consideration of issues relating to the findings expressed in this section.  The administrator may provide limited staffing to assist the panel to whatever extent the administrator may desire and have available.  All members of the panel shall serve on an uncompensated voluntary basis and shall bear their own expenses.  To the greatest extent possible, all conferences established by the panel shall be financially supported by the joint sponsorship of public and private organizations together with attendance fees.