HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1000

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to repealing the sunset termination of the basic health plan.

Brief Description:  Removing the sunset provisions from the basic health plan.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thibaudeau, Dellwo, Dyer, Brown, G. Cole, Morris, Locke, Eide, Wood, Cothern, Sehlin, Mastin, Miller, Franklin, Chandler, Carlson, Vance, Peery, Veloria, Shin, J. Kohl, Pruitt, Grant, Anderson, Rust, Roland, Ballard, Appelwick, Flemming, Wang, Jones, Wolfe, Van Luven, Brough, Karahalios, Fuhrman, Zellinsky, Brumsickle, R. Johnson, Ludwig, Dorn, L. Johnson, R. Meyers, Long, Kremen, Tate, Mielke, Holm, Scott, Springer, Kessler, Basich, Dunshee, Sheldon, Wineberry, Ogden, Quall, Foreman, Schmidt, Ballasiotes, Forner, Cooke, Thomas, Schoesler, Morton, Stevens, Bray, Chappell, Leonard, Jacobsen, Rayburn, Horn, Silver, Hansen and H. Myers.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, January 14, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Cooke; Flemming; L. Johnson; R. Johnson; Mastin; Mielke; Morris; Thibaudeau; and Veloria.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

Background:  The Washington Basic Health Plan (BHP) was authorized by the 1987 Legislature to begin to address the problems of the uninsured.  The plan is designed to provide affordable health care coverage to eligible low-income families.  It is the nation's first program of subsidized health care coverage for the low-income uninsured.  Premiums are based upon a family's ability to pay.  "Basic" benefits emphasize prevention of illness and coverage for major medical needs.  Having completed three years of operation, the Basic Health Plan has:  contracted for health service delivery with 17 managed health care systems in all or parts of 17 counties; and, served over 31,999 of Washington's uninsured citizens, with a December 1, 1992 enrollment level of 21,828.

The BHP was under sunset review in 1992.  The Legislative Budget Committee sunset report recommended reauthorization.

Summary of Bill:  The BHP sunset termination statute is repealed and BHP is authorized permanently, pending future statutory modification.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.