HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 3079
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Title: An act relating to health care services.
Brief Description: Reporting on the employment status of recipients of medicaid and the basic health plan.
Sponsors: Representatives Conway, Cody, Sells, Dickerson, Morrell, Simpson, Schual-Berke, Hasegawa, Chase and Santos.
Brief History:
Health Care: 1/31/06, 2/2/06 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Lantz, Moeller and Schual-Berke.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Alexander and Bailey.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).
Background:
The Legislature has expanded Medicaid eligibility and established the Basic Health Plan
(Plan) to provide health care coverage for low income working families. There is limited
information collected on the employers of low income workers who enroll in Medicaid and
the Plan.
Summary of Bill:
The Health Care Authority and the Department of Social and Health Services will submit a
report to the Legislature on the employment status of enrollees of the Plan and Medicaid.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 31, 2006.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This information should be collected so we know why and for how long
low income employees are receiving benefits from these public programs.
(With concerns) This will be an expensive report to produce. It's not funded in the
Governor's budget.
Testimony Against: Gathering this information on small employers might jeopardize the identities of their employees.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Conway, prime sponsor; David West,
Center for a Changing Workforce; and Steve Gano, Wal-Mart.
(With concerns) Gary Smith, Independent Business Association; and Roger Gantz,
Department of Social and Health Services.
(Opposed) Carolyn Logue, National Federation of Independent Business.