Legislature agrees on health care reform bill

OLYMPIA – Of all the bills considered this legislative session, it ranks among the most far-reaching. But then again, overhauling the state’s health care delivery system is heavy lifting.

Today the Senate voted 31-17 to accept the conference committee report on Senate Bill 5930, which puts into motion the major recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access.

“The health care revolution in this state is about to start,” said Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, the measure’s sponsor. “No longer will we settle for a fee-for-service system. It just doesn’t work and it prices too many people out of the market. In the future, Washington’s health care consumers will be served by a system based on outcomes. It will be more efficient, more affordable and more accountable.”

Major highlights of the bill include the following:

• Setting up medical homes to provide chronic care management for people with serious illnesses;
• Training and technical assistance for primary care providers caring for those with chronic conditions;
• Creating a quality forum to collect and analyze health care research;
• Reducing unnecessary emergency room visits by linking patients with community health centers for non-emergent care;
• Requiring insurers to offer coverage to unmarried dependent children younger than 25;
• Designing a state-supported reinsurance program to help make premiums more affordable for employees of small businesses, with financing options to be submitted to the governor and Legislature;
• Reforming the Washington State Health Insurance Pool to make it more affordable and encourage enrollees to participate in chronic care and disease management programs;
• Directing up to four state agencies to design health and wellness programs to measure outcomes on diabetes, smoking cessation, weight reduction, cholesterol levels and absenteeism;
• Monitoring the use of prescription drugs that contain controlled substances, so prescribers will know if someone is “shopping” for medications;
• Directing the Office of Financial Management to submit a health resources strategy to the Legislature and governor to identify how to efficiently deliver high-quality care at affordable costs; and
• Requiring performance measures to be set up to hold local public health districts accountable for spending.

“It’s a comprehensive and yes, complex, piece of legislation,” Keiser said. “But it all boils down to this: The families and people of Washington will get more options for affordable, high-quality health care we will know is effective and efficient.”

The bill goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature.

Return to Sen. Keiser's home page