HOUSE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5378

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Health Care and Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn and Kreidler)

Licensing laboratories conducting prenatal test.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Cantwell, Lewis, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Butterfield, Grant, Grimm, Holland, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel and Wang.

House Staff:      David Knutson (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 6, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Scientific advancements in the area of genetic diagnosis have resulted in the development of prenatal tests for identifying congenital and heritable disorders.  Some tests now available require substantial quality control measures in order to assure accuracy.  Counseling for both physicians and patients is often necessary to fully understand test results and options available to address problems identified by the tests.  One example of these tests is the maternal serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) screening test.  State mandated quality control standards for laboratories performing these tests do not exist.

SUMMARY:

A data reporting program is created for laboratories performing prenatal tests.  The program is established in the Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS).  The Board of Health is directed to review prenatal tests and recommend which shall be included in the data reporting program. DSHS shall enumerate these tests in rule.  An advisory committee is formed to assist the department in the development of laboratory reporting rules.  All persons licensed to provide prenatal care in the state are directed to provide information about the use and availability of prenatal tests to pregnant women within time limits prescribed by DSHS.

Effective January 1, 1990, every group disability contract, health care services contract and health maintenance organization agreement covering hospital, medical or surgical expenses and which provided pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions to enrollees shall offer benefits for prenatal diagnosis of congenital disorders if such services are deemed necessary by the insurance contractor or health maintenance organization in accordance with standards set in rule by the Board of Health.

Insuring entities are prohibited from canceling, reducing, or limiting health care coverage soley on the basis of a prenatal test result.

The laboratory reporting program shall expire on June 30, 1993, unless extended for an additional period of time.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect December 31, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Health Care) Senator Lorraine Wojahn, Sponsor; Dr. David Shurtleff, Developmental Disabilities Planning Council; Terry Brown, Spinal Bifida Parents Association; Peter Bonneau; Cynthia Shurtleff, March of Dimes; Ken Bertrand, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound; Jeff Larsen, Washington Assembly of Citizens with Disabilities; Mona Gruhl.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) Senator Wojahn: Jeff Larson, Coalition of Disabilities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Health Care) Representative Mike Padden (testified in behalf of Representative John Moyer).

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Health Care) This program can lead to a reduction in birth defects.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) PKU food supplements prevent disabilities.  Insurance programs cover these supplements.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Health Care) Only a very small percentage of births will be affected by this bill.  The money would be better spent providing prenatal care to low-income women who do not currently have access to such care.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.