Title: An act relating to establishing a task force on long-term care financing and chronic care management.

Brief Description: Establishing a joint legislative and executive task force on long-term care financing and chronic care management.

Sponsors: Representatives Morrell, Schual-Berke, Cody, Simpson, Campbell, Williams, Chase, Kenney, O'Brien, Clibborn, Conway, Green, Kagi and Upthegrove; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/22/05, 2/28/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

People with functional disabilities who cannot complete activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, taking medications, and the use of bathroom facilities, need long-term care services. Most Americans do not purchase long-term care insurance to finance the care they may need when they are elderly or infirm. As the baby boom generation begins their retirement years, a large number of seniors will need professional care for at least part of their day. Individuals who need long-term care must purchase separate insurance, pay out-of-pocket, or have an income level that qualifies for Medicaid.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

An eight member Joint Legislative and Executive Task Force on Long-term Care Financing and Chronic Care Management (Task Force) is created. The Task Force includes the Secretarys of the Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services. The Task Force must develop recommendations about public and private mechanisms for financing long-term care, particularly in rural communities. Additionally, the Task Force must focus on disability prevention interventions and chronic care management that can reduce the need for long-term care. The Task Force will also review the need to add additional capacity to the long-term care system and review laws and rules for possible elimination. The Task Force must report on its progress in three phases: an initial report to be completed no later than January 1, 2006; a report of recommendations no later than January 1, 2007; and a final report no later than June 30, 2007.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill requires the task force to solicit input from stakeholders through advisory committees. The Task Force will also study the continuum of services and review existing laws and rules for possible elimination.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The baby boom generation will overwhelm the long-term care system unless we plan for it now. The state needs to develop a plan and stick to it.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Christina Hulet, Office of the Governor; Kathy Leitch, Department of Social and Health Services; Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging; Jonathan Eames, Washington Health Care Association and Washington Center for Assisted Living; Jo Isgrigg, Providence Health Systems; Laurie St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; and Liz Taylor, Aging Deliberately.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.