HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2536
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to the creation of a citizens' work group on health care reform.
Brief Description: Establishing a citizens' work group on health care.
Sponsors: Representatives Cody, VanDeWege, Hasegawa, Ormsby, Seaquist, Morrell, Schual-Berke, Upthegrove and Green.
Brief History:
Health Care & Wellness: 1/17/08, 1/24/08 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Barlow, Campbell, Green, Moeller, Pedersen, Schual-Berke and Seaquist.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Assistant Ranking Minority Member and Condotta.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).
Background:
Over the past 20 years, Washington has enacted several policy and budget initiatives to
extend health coverage to individuals and families who did not have access to affordable
health insurance. The creation of the Basic Health Plan, the expansion of eligibility for the
Medicaid program, the creation of the "Cover All Children" program, and the Health
Insurance Partnership all combine to extend publically subsidized health coverage to
previously uninsured groups. There is still a sizeable population of individuals in
Washington who are not covered by health insurance and do not have access to affordable
health coverage. There is not a consensus about how best to provide access to affordable,
quality health coverage to all Washingtonians. Options to provide increased access to
affordable health coverage range from private sector modifications of insurance regulation to
public sector expansions of existing publically subsidized programs.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
A nine-member citizen work group will be appointed by the Insurance Commissioner to
engage in a public process of considering health reform proposals. The citizen work group
will be appointed by April 1, 2008 and will report their findings, conclusions, and
recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2008. The work
group will contract for an independent analysis of five health reform proposals ranging from
a limited benefit health coverage plan to a single payer proposal that will provide universal
coverage.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The appointing authority for the citizen work group is changed from the Governor to the
Insurance Commissioner. The agency responsible for staffing the work group is changed
from the Office of Financial Management to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. A
single-payer health care system is added to the list of health reform proposals that will be
evaluated. An emergency clause is added.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Received.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) It is important to conduct a public process to review all types of health reform
proposals. This analysis needs to begin right away so the results will be available for the
2009 Legislative Session. Citizens should be engaged in a public process to determine what
kind of a health care system we should have in Washington. An emergency clause should be
added to the bill so work can begin immediately. A health care reform proposal should
include universal access to affordable health coverage.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Cody, prime sponsor; Mike Kreidler, Office of the Insurance Commissioner; Robby Stern, Washington State Labor Council and the Healthy Washington Coalition; Len Eddinger, Washington State Medical Association; Ingrid McDonald, Washington State Office of the American Association of Retired People; Kent Davis, Washington Health Security Coalition; David McLanahan, Physicians for a National Health Program and the Washington Health Security Coalition; Susan Eidenshink, Health Care for All - Washington; and Erin Dziedzic, the American Cancer Society.