2SHB 2536 -
By Representative Hinkle
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that:
(1) Since 2005 there have been at least fifteen studies, task
forces, work groups, or joint select committees created by the
legislature or directed to be conducted by the governor or the office
of the insurance commissioner related to the cost, quality, and access
to health care in this state. The following studies, task forces, work
groups, and other entities have been completed to date and include but
are not limited to: The blue ribbon commission on health care costs
and access; health planning development task force; joint task force on
long-term care financing and chronic care management; report on
covering low-wage workers of large employers; report on key
contributors to health care administrative costs; Washington state PEBB
and health savings accounts study; report on emergency room trends for
the public enrollees and the uninsured; and evaluation of a
state-supported reinsurance program for individual and small group
markets.
(2) Despite all these studies, work groups, reports, and related
activities, the cost of health care has continued to increase at a
disproportionately high rate for the citizens of Washington state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 The Washington citizens' work group on
health care is established.
(1) By July 1, 2008, a panel of legislators consisting of one
member from each caucus of the house and senate shall appoint nine
citizen members who may include, but are not limited to,
representatives from business, labor, health care providers and
consumer groups, and persons with expertise in health care financing
and health care ethics. The work group shall review all reports and
recommendations that have been completed as required by the legislature
or directed to be conducted by the governor or the office of the
insurance commissioner related to the cost, quality, and access to
health care in this state.
(2) By December 1, 2008, the work group shall report to the
appropriate committees of the legislature the following information:
(a) A summary of the recommendations and outcomes from completed
reports that have been implemented, including costs of implementing the
recommendations and cost savings to date for both the state and private
citizens;
(b) Recommendations and results of studies that have had an
independent analysis completed that show a cost savings to the state
and private citizens, but have not been implemented.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 The office of financial management shall
provide the work group with the following:
(1) A detailed accounting of the cost of conducting each study,
task force, work group, and related entities that has been created by
the legislature or directed to be conducted by the governor or the
office of the insurance commissioner related to the cost, quality, and
access to health care in this state since January 1, 2005;
(2) Any and all information requested by the work group in order
for the work group to complete the report required in section 2(2) of
this act."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Strikes the provisions of the bill and provides for a work group to study and report on all the reports, task forces, joint select committees, and related studies that have been conducted at the request of the Legislature, Governor, and Insurance Commissioner since January 1, 2005. The work group will provide a detailed accounting of the cost of conducting each study, task force, work group, and related entities that has been created by the legislature or directed to be conducted by the Governor or the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.