Volume 11, Issue 2                                                                                      January 17, 2003

_{In This Corner  by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.}   

This is shaping up to be a very busy few weeks in the hospital and across the State in Olympia.  The State Legislature convened earlier this week for a scheduled 105 day session.  

    This legislature is faced with a $2-billion dollar budget that must be resolved.  Earlier this week many school districts were closed as teachers crossed to the State Capitol or held rallies and meetings in their own towns to demand the legislature provide full funding for education. 

    Everyone in healthcare supports full funding for education.  We rely on our public school system from the earliest years to the State colleges and universities to prepare the future nurses, doctors and other leaders of tomorrow.  But, as you well know, healthcare is also in need of consideration during this session.  We cannot take a day off to promote the cause of health care in Olympia.  Imaging must work every day, the laboratory cannot postpone blood work for a day, and nurses cannot leave the bedside for a rally.  So, we rely upon our state lawmakers to listen to the concerns we express when they visit here - or to the letters and emails we send throughout the year. 

    Please do your part to support full and fair funding for the essentials of government service to the people of the state.  If you live in Sunnyside/Grandview you are the 15th Legislative District.  If you live in Yakima you are in the 14th District.  If you live in Tri-Cities you are in the 8th or the 16th.  Please write or email your State Senator, and your two State Representatives and tell them of your concerns about fair funding for Healthy Options and other State Medicaid programs.  Your lawmakers will listen - but it is a conversation that must be started by you.

For the latest from the legislature right on your own computer click here. 

Top 8 Priorities of Washington State Hospital Association

Editor's Note:  This is a summary of a January 13th Legislative Webcast.  It was prepared by the Community Relations Department.  The link listed above in Jon Smiley's article will have daily updated information. 

1. Preserve Funding for Basic Health Plan.   The Governor’s budget cuts funding roughly in half.
2. Maintain hospital payments for medically indigent program. 
3. Maintain funding for Medicaid supplemental payment program.  The Governor proposes $29 million in cuts to disproportionate share funding.
4. Restore funding to trauma care.  (This is supported by the Governor’s budget.)
5. Maintain mental health funding.
6. No significant cuts in funding for rural non-profit nursing homes.
7. Improve Medicaid/Basic Health reimbursement to physician.  Many doctors are already opting out.
8. Eliminate barriers to enrollment in Medicaid.  (The Governor is proposing creation of up to 40 FTEs in department of health to re-verify enrollment eligibility every six months.  Currently it is done once a year.)

    The WSHA also seeks liability reform similar to what was enacted in California.  This would cap punitive damages and attorney fees in cases.  Health & Human Services (which includes Medicaid-Healthy Options) makes up 38% of the State budget.  The Governor is proposing $920 million in cuts to healthcare.  

    There would be no cost of inflation increases in Medicaid provider payments during the two years of the budget.  (2003-5).

    The budget has no cuts to children’s Medicaid or the CHIP program.

    Proposals being floated include a state income tax, which no one thinks will happen.  An increased B & O tax on providers, or a sales tax on healthcare which would actually reduce the B & O on providers.

    The legislative session is supposed to last 105 days.  The House budget controlled by the democratic caucus comes out in March.  The Senate proposal (republican control) comes out in April.

Please click here to go to next page.