BILL REQ. #:  H-1324.3 

Read first time 02/09/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to chronic kidney disease; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature recognizes that:
     (a) A significant number of this state's population have some form of chronic kidney disease, including persons with seriously reduced kidney function that may progress to end stage renal disease, requiring kidney dialysis or the receipt of a kidney by transplant;
     (b) End stage renal disease is usually the result of years of chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of chronic kidney disease as the primary contributing factors;
     (c) The treatment of chronic kidney disease is a significant expense, and the early diagnosis and effective treatment of chronic kidney disease can prolong lives and delay the high cost of treatment, including dialysis or transplantation, or both; and
     (d) There are existing, cost-effective laboratory test calculations that can assist in the early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.
     The legislature, therefore, finds that a systematic study of chronic kidney disease and its impacts will benefit the public health and welfare of the state.
     (2)(a) A joint legislative task force on chronic kidney disease is established, with members as provided in this subsection.
     (i) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate.
     (ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives.
     (iii) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint the following members:
     (A) Three members who are physicians licensed to practice in this state, one each representing specialties in nephrology, pathology, and primary care;
     (B) One member who is a registered nurse practicing in the renal field;
     (C) One member representing a private renal care provider;
     (D) One member representing a nonprofit kidney center;
     (E) One member representing insurance carriers;
     (F) One member representing hospitals or clinical laboratories;
     (G) One member representing patients or a nongovernmental organization active in chronic kidney disease advocacy.
     (iv) The governor shall appoint one member representing the health care authority.
     (b) The department of health shall cooperate with the task force and provide information as the cochairs may reasonably request.
     (c) The task force shall choose its cochairs from among its legislative membership.
     (3) The task force shall:
     (a) Study and make recommendations on all aspects of chronic kidney disease, including its complications and how the disease affects this state's population;
     (b) Develop a plan to educate the public and health care professionals about the advantages and methods of early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease and its complications based on the kidney disease outcomes quality initiative clinical practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease or other medically recognized clinical practice guidelines;
     (c) Develop a plan to educate health care professionals and people with chronic kidney disease about early renal replacement therapy, including in-center dialysis, home hemodialysis, home peritoneal dialysis, as well as access options and transplantation, prior to the onset of end stage renal disease when kidney function is declining; and
     (d) Make recommendations on the implementation of a cost-effective plan for early screening, diagnosis, and treatment for persons at risk of chronic kidney disease.
     (4) Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research.
     (5) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (6) The expenses of the task force shall be paid jointly by the senate and the house of representatives. Task force expenditures are subject to approval by the senate facilities and operations committee and the house executive rules committee, or their successor committees.
     (7) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007.
     (8) This section expires January 1, 2008.