HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1221

                       As Passed House

                       March 11, 1993

Title:  An act relating to poison information centers.

Brief Description:  Centralizing poison information services.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Cole, Ballard, Flemming, Jacobsen, Veloria, Cothern, Dellwo, Thibaudeau, Appelwick, Johanson, Orr, Scott, Ballasiotes, Silver, Lisk, Leonard, Cooke, J. Kohl, L. Johnson, Mielke and Kremen.)

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 11, 1993, DPA;

Appropriations, March 1, 1993, DPS(APP);

  Passed House, March 11, 1993, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; L. Johnson, Vice Chair; Dyer, Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Campbell; Conway; Cooke; Flemming; R. Johnson; Lisk; Mielke; Morris; Thibaudeau; and Veloria.

Staff:  Bill Hagens (786-7131).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Appropriations be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Ballasiotes; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; Morton; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Sommers; Stevens; Talcott; Wang; Wineberry; and Wolfe.

Staff:  Maureen Morris (786-7152).

Background:  Currently, there are four poison information centers located in the state.  They are situated in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Yakima. The centers provide, among other services, emergency telephone management and treatment referral of victims of poisoning.

There are no requirements that state agency poison control programs and outreach units be coordinated, nor for services providing community education programs to improve awareness of poisoning and overdose, occupational risks, and environmental exposures.

The medical director of the poison center must be certified by the secretary of the Department of Health, but there is no similar certification required for a poison information specialist.

There is no authority for a poison center to accept gifts, grants and endowments for the use and benefit of the center.

In 1993 the Legislature asked the Department of Health to recommend a plan to consolidate the poison control services.  The department recommended "A single poison center should be established by September 1993, which is affiliated with an existing medical organization...."

Summary of Bill:  By June 30, 1993, the four poison information programs located throughout the state are to be centralized and coordinated by a single nonprofit center at a place to be determined by the secretary of the Department of Health.

A 24-hour emergency telephone management and treatment referral program is to be provided by the poison information center, to include determinations of whether treatment can be accomplished at the scene of an incident or whether transport to a facility is required.  The center is to provide community education programs to the public and for health professionals to improve awareness of poisoning and overdose problems, occupational risks, and environmental exposures.  The center is also to coordinate outreach units for public information and education relative to toxicology issues.  The Department of Health is directed to establish a system for consulting with other state and local agency programs to develop a coordinated response to exposures, poisonings, and other toxicological matters.

A poison information specialist must be certified by the Secretary of Health in order to perform responsibilities at the center.  The poison information center is authorized to accept and use public and private gifts, grants, and endowments for the purposes of the center.

The bill effect on July 1, 1993, however the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 1993, however the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.

Testimony For:  (Health Care) Hospitals can no longer afford to provide poison control services within their own revenue.  A state coordinated policy is needed.

(Appropriations) Poison centers provide a life saving service.  The current host hospitals cannot continue to subsidize this service.  If there were no centers, people would rely on calling 911, their own physician, or going to an emergency room.  None of these options would provide access to the specialized knowledge about poisonous substances and treatment for poisoning available at a poison center.

Testimony Against:  (Health Care) None.

(Appropriations) None.

Witnesses:  (Health Care) Representative Grace Cole, prime sponsor; Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association (pro); Dr. Bill Robertson, Mr. Yuk (pro); Janet Griffith, Department of Health (pro); Ruth Benfield, Children's Hospital (pro); and Steve Bobbink, Seattle Poison Center and Children's Hospital (pro).

(Appropriations) Ruth Benfield, Seattle Children's Hospital (pro); Bill Roberts, Seattle Poison Center (pro); Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association (pro); Rick Wickman, Multicare (pro); and Robb Menaul, Washington State Hospital Association (pro).