HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2410

BYRepresentatives Anderson, Wolfe, Prentice, Brooks, Locke, Scott, Miller, Wood, Wineberry and Brekke

Extending medical assistance hospice benefits through the end of this biennium.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Hospice care refers to a range of care and assistance to the patient and family which alleviates the physical, emotional and spiritual discomfort associated with death and dying.

In 1983, the federal government authorized a Medicare hospice benefit.  In that same year, the Washington State Legislature enacted legislation to establish a mandatory insurance offering for a hospice benefit.  In 1986, hospice benefits were made a permanent part of the medicare system and states were also allowed to include hospice as part of their Medicaid package.  It was not until 1989 that Washington State enacted legislation that allowed hospice Medicaid benefits on a pilot basis subject to a review of the cost effectiveness of the program by the Department of Social and Health Services. The report recommended continuation of the benefit until the end of the biennium.  Cost data, however, was lacking in the report because limited participation resulted in insufficient information for analysis.

Eligibility for Medicaid hospice is based on our state's Medicaid eligibility requirements and a physician's certification that the person requesting the hospice services has only six months to live.

The hospice Medicaid benefit is scheduled to terminate on April 1, 1990 unless extended by legislation.

SUMMARY:

Medicaid hospice benefits will continue through the current biennium (June 30, 1991).  The Department of Social and Health Services is required to provide the legislature with a report indicating the costs of providing Medicaid hospice services.  The report is due December 20, 1990.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 23, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Cal Anderson; Betty Jorgensen, Washington State Hospice Organization and Home Care Association of Washington; Ron Kero, Department of Social and Health Services.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Medicaid hospice has provided a valuable and needed service to terminally ill patients and their families in our state during the last year.  An extension of this benefit will allow the state to continue supporting this type of care and provide an opportunity to gather additional information about the costs associated with the program.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.