AN ACT Relating to state health care access task force; amending RCW 43.131.355 and 43.131.356; creating new sections; and repealing RCW 70.170.030 and 70.170.040.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that:

(1) Availability of health care services is of critical importance to the citizens of Washington.

(2) A significant number of Washington residents may have only limited access to even the most basic health care services.

(3) Several factors within the current health care system may be contributing to this lack of access, including the cost of care, the lack of insurance coverage among certain groups, the geographic distribution of health care services, the effects of professional liability, the lack of consumer awareness, and the lack of consumer willingness to use available services.

(4) Limited access may increase health care costs to the general public because of the inappropriate utilization of emergency services and the practice of shifting the cost of providing charity care to those who have the means to pay.

(5) No clear policy exists to define the basic health care services that should be universally available.

For these reasons the legislature intends to create a mechanism for thorough and open consideration of the question of access to health care services. The legislature intends that such consideration include participation by Washington's residents, by experts from around the nation, and by experts from other countries. The legislature further intends that this consideration result in a series of specific recommended actions that can be taken to improve the availability of health care services in Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The Washington health care access task force is created to be composed of representatives of health care services providers, purchasers, and insurers, including hospitals, physicians, nurses, health maintenance organizations, health care insurers, self-insured businesses, small businesses, local government, state government, allied health professions, and persons affiliated with health science schools. The governor shall appoint members of the task force. Staff assistance shall be coordinated for the task force by the state board of health staff. Additional assistance shall be provided by the departments of health, social and health services, labor and industries, corrections, the basic health plan, and other health-related state agencies.

The task force shall collaborate with relevant state, local, and private agencies to complete an analysis of the extent to which Washington residents are experiencing a lack of availability of basic health care services, including:

(a) The establishment of a working definition of basic health care services that should be universally accessible;

(b) An estimate of the number of Washington residents for whom basic health care services are not available;

(c) An analysis of the impacts of factors such as the cost of care, lack of insurance coverage, distribution of services, consumer awareness of needed health care services, professional liability, and defensive medicine on the availability of basic health care services;

(d) An estimate of the impact public and private initiatives have had in improving access to health care services, including medicaid, the basic health plan, the high-risk insurance pool, and the provision of charity care by physicians, hospitals, and other health care service providers; and

(e) A review of public and private initiatives in other states and other industrialized nations to ensure the availability of health care services.

(2) Based on the analyses and determinations in subsection (1) of this section, public forums, and collaboration with relevant state, local, and private health-related agencies, the task force shall recommend a plan to ensure availability of basic health care services. The plan shall include at least:

(a) Identification of the changes to state rules and statutes necessary to accomplish recommended changes;

(b) Identification of state, local government, or private entities responsible for implementation;

(d) A suggested timeline for phased implementation of all recommended changes.

(3) The plan should include strategies to mitigate the negative impacts on access to health care services from the cost of health care, professional liability considerations, consumer awareness, the geographic availability of health care services, or other factors.

(4) The task force shall submit a preliminary report including preliminary recommendations as required under this act on March 31, 1992, and a final report on June 30, 1992, to the state board of health, the governor, and the legislature. The task force's recommendations shall be considered in the preparation of the state health report as required by RCW 43.20.050. In addition, upon request the task force may advise the governor and the legislature on matters related to their duties outlined in this act.

Sec. 3. Section 24, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. and RCW 43.131.355 are each amended to read as follows:

The Washington basic health plan administrator and its powers and duties shall be terminated on June 30, ((~~1992~~)) 1993, as provided in RCW 43.131.356.

Sec. 4. Section 25, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. and RCW 43.131.356 are each amended to read as follows:

The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective June 30, ((~~1993~~)) 1994:

(1) Section 1, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.900;

(2) Section 2, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.140;

(3) Section 3, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.010;

(4) Section 4, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.020;

(5) Section 5, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.030;

(6) Section 6, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.040;

(7) Section 7, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.050;

(8) Section 8, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.060;

(9) Section 9, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.070;

(10) Section 10, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.080;

(11) Section 11, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.090;

(12) Section 12, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.100;

(13) Section 13, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.110;

(14) Section 14, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.120;

(15) Section 15, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 70.47.130;

(16) Section 16, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 50.20.210;

(17) Section 17, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 51.28.090; and

(18) Section 18, chapter 5, Laws of 1987 1st ex.s. and RCW 74.04.033.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) Section 503, chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 70.170.030; and

(2) Section 504, chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 70.170.040.