April 4, 2014
The Honorable Mike KreidlerInsurance CommissionerP.O. Box 40258Olympia, WA 98504
Dear Dr. Kreidler and Mr. Rubin:
Mr. Rick RubinChief Executive OfficerOneHealthPort2003 Western Avenue, Suite 600Seattle, WA 98121
The undersigned provider, patient advocate and consumer organizations note that OneHealthPorthas been tasked by the Insurance Commissioner to develop recommendations for priorauthorization requirements in accordance with Senate Bill 6511.
Our organizations were strong proponents of the bill and its precursor in 2013, Senate Bill 5267.We recognize the concerns about the legislation's October 31 deadline that OneHealthPortdescribed in testimony, and offer our assistance to help ensure OneHealthPort's success withinthat timeframe.
The State of California has recently completed a similar exercise. Enacting legislation wasadopted there in 2011. Years of collaboration among insurance carriers, patient advocates, stateagencies, and provider groups yielded a new form for pharmacy services which is slated forimplementation on October 1, 2014. We believe California's work product would be an excellenttemplate from which to craft a streamlined form and authorization process for pharmacy andmedical services here hi our state. A copy is attached for your convenience.
In addition, our organizations stand ready to offer nominees to allow the InsuranceCommissioner to expeditiously name members to the new work group established by Senate Bill6511. We believe the breadth and expertise of our organizations would easily satisfy therequirements of RCW 48.165.030 (l)(a) and (b) as well as (2)(b) and (c), should those sectionsbe used as guidelines for establishing this new work group.
We look forward to the launch of this new work and stand ready to assist to ensure a successfulconclusion to its efforts by the October 31 deadline.
Please let us know how we may be of service to you in this effort. For your convenience, PeterNewbould of the Autoimmune Advocacy Alliance is ready to be the point of contact for ourorganizations. He can be reached at 206-678-5822 and penewbould(o),gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Allied Health Advocates LLCAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American College of RheumatologyAmerican Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific
Dr. Kreidler & Mr. RubinApril 4, 2014Page 2
Arthritis Foundation, Great West RegionAutoimmune Advocacy AllianceBehavioral Health & WellnessCaring Ambassadors Program
Coalition of State Rheumatology OrganizationsConnecTID
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Northwest ChapterEaster Seals Washington
Hepatitis Education ProjectInternational Cancer Advocacy Network
Islamic Civic Engagement ProjectLeukemia & Lymphoma Society Washington/Alaska Chapter
Lifelong AIDS AllianceMolly's Fund Fighting Lupus
NAACP Snohomish County BranchNational Federation of Independent Business
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Northwest ChapterOne in Four Chronic Health
Pat's FundScleroderma Foundation, Evergreen Chapter
Washington Osteopathic Medical AssociationWashington Rheumatology Association
Washington State Medical Oncology SocietyWashington State Pharmacy Association
Washington State Prostate Cancer CoalitionWashington State Urology Society
Attachment
cc: The Honorable Randi Becker, Senate Health Care Committee chairThe Honorable Jamie Pedersen, Senate Health Care Committee ranking memberThe Honorable Eileen Cody, House Health Care & Wellness Committee chairThe Honorable Joe Schmick, House Health Care & Wellness Committee ranking member
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