HOUSE BILL REPORT
2SSB 6193
As Passed House - Amended:
March 2, 2006
Title: An act relating to health professions work force supply and demographics information.
Brief Description: Requiring surveys of health professions work force supply and demographics.
Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Regala, Keiser, Eide, Prentice, Rasmussen, Jacobsen, Fairley, McAuliffe, Fraser, Brown, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Parlette and Shin).
Brief History:
Health Care: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DPA];
Appropriations: 2/27/06 [DPA(HC)].
Floor Activity:
Passed House - Amended: 3/2/06, 75-23.
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill (As Amended by House) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Condotta.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended by Committee on Health Care. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Clements, Cody, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, McIntire, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, P. Sullivan and Walsh.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Chandler and Talcott.
Staff: Amy Hanson (786-7118).
Background:
The Department of Health (Department) regulates 57 health care professions. Currently, over
290,000 people hold a health care provider credential issued by the Department. Of those,
approximately 170,000 are licensed health care providers.
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Board) convened a task force to
examine the extent to which there is a shortage of trained health care providers in
Washington and to develop recommendations for increasing the number of providers. In its
2002 report, the task force noted that there were shortages of health care professionals in
several professions including dental hygienists, dentists, medical aides, nurses, pharmacists,
physicians, and radiology technologists. One of the recommendations of the task force was
to "develop a data collection and analysis system to assess health workforce supply and
demand."
In 2004, the Legislature created the Joint Select Committee on Health Disparities
(Committee) through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8419. The Committee
issued a report on health disparities in Washington on November 1, 2005. The report
contained several recommendations and findings for the Legislature's consideration. Among
the Committee's recommendations was to identify and collect "relevant and accurate data on
health care professionals" as one way to reduce health disparities.
Summary of Amended Bill:
The Department shall gather data related to the supply of health care providers and
demographics of the health care work force through surveys that will be sent every two years
to licensed health care providers. In developing the surveys, the Department shall collaborate
with the Board and seek advice from researchers who are likely to use the information.
At a minimum, the surveys must include questions related to:
The Department may approve proposals to distribute surveys requesting additional data to
individual professions if: (1) there is a legitimate research interest; (2) the burden on license
holders is not unreasonable; (3) the effect on survey response rates is not unreasonable; and
(4) funds are available. The Department may accept funds from other entities to support the
enhanced surveys.
Data elements from the surveys are confidential and exempt from public disclosure, unless
they are released for study and analysis pursuant to a data sharing agreement. The
Department shall make a public data set available that maintains the confidentiality of
individual health care providers.
The failure to complete a survey may not be grounds for disciplinary action against a health
care provider.
By July 1, 2009, the Department must report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of using a
survey to obtain information on the supply of health professionals; the distribution and use of
the information; and the extent that the surveys have relieved shortages.
The act expires on January 1, 2012.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except for section 1, relating to legislative findings, which takes effect July 1, 2006.
Testimony For: (Health Care) (In support) Washington must prepare for the state's changing
demographics. This is part of a complete package that speaks to the complete issue of health
disparities.
(Comments) Surveying health care providers is vital to assessing the supply of the health care
workforce.
Testimony For: (Appropriations) None.
(Comments) The provisions of the bill align with the number one priority of the healthcare
personnel shortage task force. That task force is made up of leaders from the health care
industry including, the Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Nurses
Association, Washington State Medical Association, Service Employees International Union,
and a variety of others which all agree that this is the top priority for 2006.
Testimony Against: (Health Care) None.
Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.
Persons Testifying: (Health Care) (In support) Senator Franklin, prime sponsor.
(Comments) Maddy Thompson, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.
Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) (Comments) Madeline Thompson, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.