Update on AT Issues--State Legislature

[Ron Johnson]

How do I unsubscribe from this AT lsit.
Thanks,

Ron Johnson

At 12:19 PM 1/29/99 -0800, you wrote:
>Here is a first status report on bills of interest currently pending
>before the state legislature.  Please let me know if you have any
>questions about these!  Francie Pennell
>
>1st STATUS REPORT 
>1999 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
>WASHINGTON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE
>
>Welcome to the 1999 Washington State Legislative Session!  The Legislature
>is in the third week of a session scheduled to last until April 25th.  It
>is considering several bills of interest to users of assistive technology
>and their families.  If you would like copies of these bills, please
>contact the Bill Room at (360) 786-7573 or visit the Legislature's website
>at http://leginfo.leg.wa.gov.  If you want to contact a legislator, call
>the legislative hotline at (V) 1-800-562-6000 or (TDD) 1-800-635-9993 or
>simply send a letter or postcard addressed to the legislator
>(Representative __ or Senator ___) in Olympia, WA  98504-0482.  You can
>also send a message via email.  Email addresses are listed on the
>Legislature's website.  If you have questions about any of these bills,
>we'll be happy to try to answer them.  Contact Frances Pennell at the
>Assistive Technology Resource Center via email at
>fpennell at u.washington.edu or via phone at (206) 685-4181 or (206)
>616-1396(TTY).
>
>Eliminating Sales & Use Taxes on Home Medical Equipment
>
>SB 5174:  This bill would eliminate sales and use taxes on durable medical
>equipment including but not limited to wheelchairs, hospital beds,
>standing aids, walking aids, lifting chairs connected and used in
>conjunction with a lifting device, modifications to motor vehicles to
>enable a person of disability to operate or be transported and parts and
>accessories of all such durable medical equipment.  It also would
>eliminate taxes on labor and services for repairing, cleaning, altering or
>improving such items.  See also HB 1355 (companion bill).   Status:
>SB5174 is in Senate Ways & Means; HB 1355 is in House Finance.
>
>HB 1416: This bill is similar to HB2004 introduced two years ago.  It
>would eliminate sales and use taxes on home medical equipment purchased
>for personal use by an individual or a member of his/her immediate family.
>Home medical equipment is defined as equipment or devices used by a
>patient at home over an extended period of time for the treatment of a
>medical condition, that can withstand repeated use and would not be useful
>to a person in the absence of illness or injury. It includes, but is not
>limited to, wheelchairs, hospital beds, standing aids, walking aids,
>bathroom aids, respirators, splints, trusses, braces, crutches, lifting
>chairs connected and used in conjunction with a lifting device, and parts
>and accessories of such items.  Status:  Referred to House Finance.
>
>Health Care
>
>SB5416:  This bill would create a Children's Health Insurance Program
>under Title XXI of the Social Security Act.  Title XXI was created by
>Congress in 1997 with the intent of expanding health care coverage for
>uninsured children.  It authorizes states to develop new insurance
>programs for children up to age 19 with family incomes of less than 200
>percent of the Federal Poverty Level and/or 50 points higher than the
>state's Medicaid eligibility limit.  Two-thirds of the program's cost is
>borne by the Federal government.  The funding cannot be used to administer
>or expand existing programs.  Because Washington Medicaid already serves
>children up to 200 percent of the FPL, it can only use CHIP dollars for
>children in families between 200 and 250 percent of FPL.  Efforts to pass
>legislation establishing a CHIP program in Washington state failed last
>year making Washington one of only two states that does not have a CHIP
>program.  This bill, requested by Governor Locke, would authorize the
>Medical Assistance Administration to design and implement a CHIP program.
>Three options can be explored by the Department:  (1) a Medicaid expansion
>which would operate under precisely the same rules as the current Medicaid
>program but expand eligibility up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty
>Level; (2) creation of a new CHIP program and/or (3) some combination of a
>Medicaid expansion and a new CHIP program.  Status:  Senate Health & Long
>Term Care. See also HB 1301(companion bill) in House Health Care
>Committee. 
>
>HB1469:  This bill was introduced by Representative Parlette, Co-Chair of
>the House Health Care Committee.  It would create a CHIP program with
>eligibility limited to children with a "special health care need" defined
>to include chronic illnesses that are lifelong and others that can be
>improved but only with substantial treatment.  The plan would be
>administered through the Basic Health Plan.  The Administrator would be
>responsible for designing a program that meets Title XXI standards (which
>does not necessarily require coverage of rehabilitation services or
>equipment) and may include benefits in addition to those currently
>available under the Basic Health Plan. Status:  House Health Care
>Committee.  
>
>Both House Bills are scheduled for hearing before the House Health Care
>Committee on Friday, February 5, 1999 at 1:30 in Hearing Room in Hearing
>Room C, John L. O'Brien Building.  A hearing before the Senate Health &
>Long Term Care Committee was held on 1/18/99.
>
>HB 1112:  This bill would add orthotic and prosthetic services,
>occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy to the list of
>covered basic health plan services.  Status:  House Health Care Committee.
>
>SB 5149: This bill would expand the medical practitioners authorized to
>refer a patient for occupational therapy to include osteopaths,
>podiatrists, naturopaths, chiropractors, physicians assistants, clinical
>psychologists and advanced registered nurse practitioners as well as
>physicians.  (Note that the statutory definition of occupational therapy
>includes designing, applying and fabricating orthotics and prosthetics and
>adaptive equipment (RCW 18.59.020)).  Status:	Senate Health & Long Term
>Care Committee.  See also HB 1113 (Companion Bill) in House Health Care
>Committee.
>
>SB 5587:  This bill would establish a comprehensive patient bill of rights
>applicable to health plans operating in Washington state.  Among other
>things, the bill establishes a uniform definition of medical necessity and
>requires that health plans maintain adequate provider networks and
>grievance procedures.  The bill also would require health plans to provide
>for review of denials of health care services (including denials of DME)
>by independent, outside agencies within strict time limits.  The Insurance
>Commissioner is directed to adopt relevant rules and regulations.  Status:
>Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee.
>
>Education
>
>HB 1242 (by request of the Office of the Superintendent of Public
>Instruction): This bill would increase the amount that First and Second
>Class districts receive in reimbursement for covered services (presumably
>including at least some AT-related services) rendered to Medicaid-eligible
>students from 20 percent of the federal share (about $10 out of every $100
>spent) to 50 percent of the federal share (about $25 out of every $100
>spent).  See also SB 5411 (companion bill)  - Senate Education Committee.
>
>HB 1240 (by request of the Office of the Superintendent of Public
>Instruction):  This bill would increase the amount that Second Class
>districts receive in reimbursement for covered services (presumably
>including at least some AT-related services) rendered to Medicaid-eligible
>students from 20 percent of the federal share (about $10 out of every $100
>spent) to 50 percent of the federal share (about $25 out of every $100
>spent).  
>
>Both House Bills are scheduled for Hearing before the House Committee on
>Education on Monday, February 1, 1999 at 1:30 PM, Hearing Room A, John L.
>O'Brien Building.  Senate Bill 5411 is also scheduled for hearing on
>February 1, 1999 at 1:30 PM before the Senate Education Committee, Hearing
>Room 1.  
>
>Information Technology
>
>SB 5194 (by request of the Department of Information Services):  This bill
>would require state agencies to develop information technology portfolios
>consisting of a strategic management process documenting relationships
>between agency missions and their information technology investments.  The
>portfolio would serve as a basis for all agency technology investment
>decisions.  DIS would be given oversight powers with respect to such
>portfolios and would be required to develop technology standards.  The
>current version of the bill is silent as to the need to address access
>barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in using information
>technologies.  Status:  Heard on 1/28 by the Senate Energy,
>Telecommunications and Technology Committee.  
>
>Miscellaneous
>
>HB1261:  This bill would authorize the Department of Labor & Industries to
>pay for modifications to vehicles owned by injured workers who have become
>amputees or paralyzed due to an industrial injury.  The benefit would be
>available to any "otherwise eligible worker" regardless of the date of
>injury.  Status:  Scheduled for hearing before House Commerce & Labor
>Committee, House Hearing Rm. B, John L. O'Brien Building on February 3,
>1999 at 8:00 a.m. 
>
>HB 1062:  This Bill would add businesses owned by "disabled persons" to
>the list of entities eligible to participate as minority enterprises for
>the purposes of contracting with state government.  The Bill notes that
>entrepreneurs with disabilities face additional expenses, including the
>purchase of assistive technology, in establishing new businesses.
>Disability is defined as a substantial impairment that limits a major life
>activity.  Temporary disabilities are excluded as are alcohol and drug
>addictions.  Businesses with seven or fewer employees would be eligible to
>participate; the number of applicants would be limited to 80 per year.
>The bill does not provide any funding for assistive technology or new
>businesses.  It simply makes it easier for people with disabilities to
>qualify as minority contractors for the purposes of doing business with
>state government.  Status:  House Committee on State Government.
>
>Other Resources of Interest
>
>This summary focuses on assistive technology.  There are many other issues
>of interest to the disability community currently pending before the state
>legislature.  Here are some other resources that may be helpful in
>tracking those issues:
>
>General Disability Issues: Contact Toby Olson at the Governor's Committee
>on Disability Issues & Employment.  1-800-949-4232/1-360-438-3168.  
>
>Developmental Disability Issues:  The DD community is advocating for
>significant increases in funding to serve the many unmet needs of
>individuals with developmental disabilities in Washington state.  The
>Community Advocacy Coalition sponsors weekly advocacy days which focus on
>a range of issues.  For more information, contact Janet Adams with the
>Community Advocacy Coalition in Olympia at (360) 357-5596.
>
>Health & Social Policy:  Nancy Amidei at the University of Washington
>School of Social Work publishes a weekly update on legislative action. Go
>to:  http://weber.u.washington.edu/~sswweb/policywatch.html.  To receive
>updates via email, contact Nancy at amidei at u.washington.edu. 
>
>Children's Issues:  The Children's Alliance sponsors weekly updates on
>state legislative activities with a focus on children's issues.  The
>Alliance also sponsors weekly meetings in Olympia.  To receive Children's
>Alliance Legislative Alerts, contact George Manalo-LeClair at 206.324.0340
>or george at childrensalliance.org.
>4
>
>
>1
>
>
>
>
>
>*****************************************
>Frances E. Pennell
>Policy & Funding Specialist
>Washington Assistive Technology Alliance
>Box 357920 
>University of Washington
>Seattle, Washington  98195-7920
>(206)  685-4181 V
>(206)  616-1395 TTY
>(206)  543-4779 FAX
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>