5930-S2 AMS PFLU GORR 179

2SSB 5930 - S AMD to S AMD (S2717.2) 163

   By    Senator Pflug

ADOPTED 3/9/2007

   On page 11, after lien 32, insert "The agencies shall design a plan to require hospitals serving patients enrolled in their state financed health plans to effectively link or refer non-emergent patients seeking care in hospital emergency rooms to twenty-four hour clinics located in the community. The clinic must be reasonably accessible and available to the patient. The agencies shall design a plan to provide all enrollees, beneficiaries, and participants in their health coverage access to a twenty-four hour, seven day a week, nurse hotline that is accessible via the two-one-one system. The agencies shall develop technical service agreements to secure public service announcements through television, radio and print media to inform the public of access to the nurse hotline."

   Renumber the sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

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EFFECT: In addition to the DSHS and HCA study of emergency room use, the agencies must design a plan to require hospitals refer to 24 hour clinics for non-emergent care, design a plan to provide 24 hour/7 days per week nurse hotline via the 211 system, and develop public service announcements about the nurse hotline.