2SSB 5597 Out of House HealthCare Committee

March 23, 2007

On Thursday, March 22nd, our bill was passed out of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee with a 9-Yea, 3-Nay, 1-Excused vote.

While in this committee, we have amended our bill further in order to clarify our intent. Unfortunately, it no longer allows us to delegate to massage therapists anymore. This doesn't mean that you are no longer allowed to refer for massage services, but the committee felt that massage delegation was one of the main cost-drivers of this bill.

Sometime next week, we hope to have a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee (the Money Committee). We plan to challenge the fiscal note that was issued by the Health Care Authority although the director has taken an active opposition to our bill and we are working hard to communicate with committee about the real costs of the bill.

We are fast approaching the cut-off of our bill to be heard on the House floor. Please check back to our website often. Doctors and patients should be calling their representatives now to encourage passage of 2SSB 5597 in the House. (Click here for your representative contact information.)

Once we pass out of the house, we have to go back to the Senate for concurrence to the changes made in the House.