washington state hospital association stat! washington hospitals in crisis preparing for the 2002...

Washington State Hospital AssociationSTAT! Washington Hospitals in Crisis

Preparing for the 2002

Legislative Session

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Presenters

Randy Revelle

TayaBriley

Cassie Sauer


Purpose of the Web Conference

• To get WSHA, AWPHD, and STAT! members ready for the 2002 legislative session

• To give you the latest information

• To let you know WSHA and AWPHD plans and get your advice

• To help you know where and how to get more information


Poll: Recent Advocacy

• Since the last session adjourned, have you:

written a letter or e-mail, or made a phone call to a legislator?

met with a legislator or staff in his or her office?

had a legislator or staff visit your hospital?


The LegislatureThe GovernorThe Budget

The LegislatureThe GovernorThe Budget


• Major shift since 2001

• Democratic Governor

• One vote Democratic majority in Senate

• Two vote Democratic majority in House

Balance of Power in Olympia


Senate Leadership

• Majority Leader: Sid Snyder (D-Long Beach)

• Minority Leader: Jim West (R-Spokane)

• Ways and Means chair: Lisa Brown (D-Spokane)

• Ways and Means minority: Dino Rossi (R-Issaquah)

• Health Care chair: Pat Thibaudeau (D-Seattle)

• Health Care minority: Alex Deccio (R-Yakima)

Senator West

Senator Snyder


House Leadership

• Speaker: Frank Chopp (D-Seattle)

• Minority Leader: Clyde Ballard (R-Wenatchee)

• Appropriations chair: Helen Sommers (D-Seattle)

• Appropriations minority: Barry Sehlin (R-Whidbey)

• Health Care chair: Eileen Cody (D-Seattle)

• Health Care minority: Tom Campbell (R-Roy)

Speaker Chopp Clyde Ballard


Every Vote Counts

• Votes will be close

• Each member has one vote

• Your Senators and House members are important, even if not in a leadership position

• Don’t know who they are? Contact Cassie Sauer, 206/216-2538 or [email protected]

• www.leg.wa.gov can find your district with your zip code


Growth in State Spending: 2001 - 2003 Biennium

14%

11%

8%

3%2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

Health Care OtherHumanServices

Debt Service K-12 All Others

Pe

rce

nt

Gro

wth

5.9 % 601 Spending Limit


State Budget Challenge

$21,550

$21,800

$22,050

$22,300

$22,550

$22,800

$23,050

2001-2003 2002 - 2003 changes

LostRevenue

Original Budget$22.8

Billion

Supplemental Budget $300 Million

September forecast:$95 million decrease

November forecast:$779 million decrease

I-747 (property tax):$25 million decrease

Federal estate tax:$20 million decrease

Available Revenue$21.9 Billion

K-12 growth, tort, fires, and other

Millions


WithoutFixing a $1.25 Billion Hole

Without Major Hospital Cuts

$21,550

$21,800

$22,050

$22,300

$22,550

$22,800

$23,050

2002 - 2003 changes

LostRevenue

Supplemental Budget $300 Million


Millions



$566 Million in cuts $246 in

Human Services

Return ferry and rail costs to transportation budget: $125 million

Use of reserves:$152 million

Money transfers: (ProShare, tobacco fund, etc): $252 million

New revenue (lottery, taxes, etc.): $169 million


Other Features of Governor’s Budget

Proposal

• Delays vendor rate and state salary increases

• Eliminates I-695 replacement funding for localgovernment and public health

• Increases state employee share of health premiums

• Eliminates entire programs and hundreds of jobs


Elimination of MI, GA-U, and ADATSA

Fee Increases

CHIP wait list for kids

BHP co-payment increases

Adult dental and vision cuts

Just because Governor didn’t choose them doesn’t mean they won’t reappear

NotAgency Budget Cut Options

Not Adopted by the Governor


Includes $28 million to increase Medicaidpayment for physicians and ambulances

Medicaid outpatient rates cut

Hospital rate increases delayed

Nursing home rates cut

Medical interpreters funding eliminated

Tobacco prevention and control funds diverted

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cut

Governor’s Health Care Budget Proposals


Questions?

Press 14 on your phone


WSHA, STAT! and AWPHDPlans and Resources


Updated Financial

Crisis Report

Coming Soon


Hospitals Still Struggling Financially

-1.0%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Rural Urban WA State

4-5% is bond raters’ healthy margin

Washington Hospital Operating Margins: 1995-2000


WSHA / AWPHD Policy Initiatives

Budget

AWPHD Bid Limit

Workforce Commission

Retroactive B&O Tax

Mandatory Overtime

Work Force Commission


Retroactive B&O Tax

• WSHA successfully overturned Business and Occupation (B&O) tax in 2001

• Governor vetoed retroactive portion

• Significant financial impact on hospitals

• WSHA trying for a new bill acceptable to the Governor or a veto override


Work Force Commission

Duties of commission:

• Strengthen training programs

• Improve image of health professions

• Reform regulations

• Streamline entry-to-practice regulations

• Support welfare-to-work and unemployment-to-work


Mandatory Overtime

• Public relations problem

• Board directed new approach for WSHA

• Seeking compromise, a reasonable bill

• Goal to keep hospitals attractive as a place to work

• Allow for emergencies and flexibility


AWPHD Bid Limit

• $5,000 limit set in 1945 requires small projects to be bid publicly

• Red tape, expense, and inefficiency

• Propose raising bid limit to $50,000

• Restore flexibility for facility upgrades

• Promote efficient use of public funds

• Consistent with the original intent of the statute


Policy/Advocacy Agenda


Policy/Advocacy Issue Briefs


WSHA / AWPHD Lobbyists

Randy RevelleLisa ThatcherLen McComb


Communication from WSHA

• Our main communication piece, coming to you weekly by e-mail:

• Anyone can receive -- encourage your staff, board members, and volunteers to sign up!

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www.wsha.orgRedesigned and Easier to Use


www.awphd.orgRedesigned and Easier to Use


www.wastat.org


www.leg.wa.gov


www.access.wa.gov


How YOU Can Help


Message to Legislators

• Basic message:

Hospitals are hurting financially.

State government is not the biggest problem. All the pressures mean that hospitals cannot absorb any more budget cuts.

We know there is a budget crunch in Olympia, but legislators cannot look to hospitals to absorb more cuts. Legislators have to look elsewhere.


• You don’t need to know all the facts and figures

• It’s okay to say, “I can get back to you”

• WSHA staff know the details

• We need your voice and your personal version of the story!

You Don’t Need to Know Everything to Advocate Effectively


Why We Need Your Action

• Legislators will be thinking about salmon, forests, transportation, education, child abuse . . . hundreds of topics.

• Make sure hospitals and health care are on their list of priorities!


We Want Feedback!

• Let us know about your meetings with legislators BEFORE they happen

• Let us know what happened in your meetings and conversations with legislators

• Ask us to follow up if necessary


Ideas for Action

• Call or e-mail legislators

• Go to Olympia to represent your hospital

• Arrange a meeting when legislators are home

• Host a dinner in Olympia with your council

• Educate your community; get them to speak


Discussion / Q & A

• Want tips or help? Contact Cassie Sauer, 206/216-2538 or [email protected]

• We’re interested in your questions and comments!

• Press 14 on your phone to ask a question

Thank you for your participation

and your support!

washington state hospital association stat! washington hospitals in crisis preparing for the 2002...

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