BILL REQ. #:  H-1626.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/16/11.   

     WHEREAS, The patient protection and affordable care act became law on March 23, 2010, enacting broad changes to every element of the nation's health care system over the course of a four-year period; and
     WHEREAS, Through 2014, the federal government will be adopting numerous regulations to implement the patient protection and affordable care act that state policymakers will need to actively follow so that the state can develop the most appropriate response to the changes in the health care system for the people of the state of Washington; and
     WHEREAS, The patient protection and affordable care act raises many policy considerations that states will have to review prior to implementing the act, including the creation of a health benefit exchange, the expansion of medicaid, health insurance design, the development of a dynamic health care workforce, and the role of public health and prevention efforts; and
     WHEREAS, The joint select committee on health reform implementation was established in 2010 to provide a forum for public comment and expert advice on the development of Washington's response to the patient protection and affordable care act; and
     WHEREAS, The joint select committee on health reform implementation expires on July 1, 2011, despite the need to continue to monitor changes to the health care system and the implementation activities of the executive branch;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the joint select committee on health reform implementation continue its work; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health reform implementation shall continue to be cochaired by the chairs of the health committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and leadership of the two largest caucuses in the House of Representatives and the Senate shall each appoint two additional legislators to serve on the joint select committee on health reform implementation. The governor shall be invited to appoint, as a liaison to the committee, a person who shall be a nonvoting member; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the cochairs may direct the formation of advisory committees, if desired, to focus on specific topic areas, such as insurance regulation, access to and expansion of public and private programs, cost containment, and workforce issues, and may invite interested stakeholders and additional experts to advise the joint select committee on health reform implementation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all participation in the joint select committee on health reform implementation and any advisory committee is without compensation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on health reform implementation expires on or before June 30, 2014.