S-4519               _______________________________________________

                                          SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 8022

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Madsen, Johnson, Gaspard, Rasmussen and Murray

Read first time 1/29/90.  Under suspension of rules, read second time and held on second reading calendar.

TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, A significant number of military families with handicapped children are stationed at Fort Lewis due to its designation as a compassionate assignment; and

          WHEREAS, These children require expensive and specialized medical attention from local civilian hospitals such as Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup and Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma; and

          WHEREAS, Three public agencies, the Civilian Health and Medical Program for the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) and Medicaid, both federal agencies, and Coordinated Children's Services, a state agency, are apparently unable to resolve questions surrounding payment for the cost of treatment; and

          WHEREAS, This conflict came to a head during October of 1989 when a provider announced it could no longer furnish care to the handicapped children of military parents due to fifty thousand dollars in unpaid bills owed the hospital by the three agencies;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress resolve this payment problem by requiring CHAMPUS to assume full financial responsibility for the medical treatment of handicapped children of military parents and that Congress provide appropriations necessary to pay these costs.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.