Legislative Update

June 2015

WCOMO

State Budget Timeline

Jan 12

Legislative session begins –

105 days long

Feb 19

Revenue Forecast

May 18

Revenue Forecast

Budget Proposals

Late March

April 26

Regular Session Ends

Government Shutdown

May - June

June 31

Special Sessions

2015 – 2017 Budget

House vs. Senate

House:Spending Level: $38.5 BIncludes New Revenue

Senate:Spending Level: $37.9 B

Transfers, Cuts, Marijuana Revenue

WA Tax Structure

Budget and Bill Highlights

Medicaid Equity:Bright Futures

Workforce Shortage: Expand State Loan

Repayment Program

Protect Safety Net Programs Exchange SustainabilitySingle Point of Entry

Proposal to Expand State Loan Repayment Program

• Requesting $7.8M to restore the program back to pre-2011 levels

• Included in both the House and Senate budgets

• Coalition of supporters, including medical, dental, nurses and hospital associations

Protect Safety Net Programs

• Untouched at this point

• Could face cuts in negotiations

• Still very important to prevent cuts to Medicaid and other important health care programs

Bright Futures• Bringing more equity to Medicaid

Coverage

• SB 5317 requires Medicaid to cover all recommended developmental and autism screenings

• Signed by Gov. Inslee on June 10th

• Still need to secure funding

Exchange Funding• Different funding levels proposed in House

vs. Senate budget• Advocates working to

– Maintain Stability– Ensure strong consumer support– Minimize financial impact on consumers by

maintaining the premium tax allocation for the Exchange

Single Point of Entry• Allowing CSOs to have access to

Healthplanfinder• Included in both House and Senate

budgets• Developing procedures for how this will

be implemented

www.SaveHealthCareinWA.org

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• EASY — Sign up at the website

Take action yourself. Pass it on.

WithinReach Action Alerts

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Carrie GloverWithinReach

206-830-5176carrieg@withinreachwa.org

Katie HewittCommunity Health Network of WA

206-652-7107katie.hewitt@chnwa.org