To promote the adoption of primary care health homes and, within them, advance the practice of chronic care management to improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary costs. "Chronic care management" means the medical management within a primary care health home of patients identified with, or at high risk for one or more chronic conditions. (Companion: HB 1739).   Official Text and Analysis.

To expand the intent section to mention primary care health homes are for children and adults, and that health homes are encouraged to collaborate with other providers currently outside the medical insurance model, such as dental providers and senior service providers. All references to reporting data to the Puget Sound Health Alliance are removed.

Promote the adoption of primary care health homes and, within them, advance the practice of chronic care management to improve health outcomes and reduce unnecessary costs. Primary care health homes are for children and adults, and that health homes are encouraged to collaborate with other providers currently outside the medical insurance model, such as dental providers and senior service providers. "Chronic care management" means the medical management within a primary care health home of patients identified with, or at high risk for one or more chronic conditions.

Adds physician assistants and osteopathic physician assistants to the definition of "primary care provider." Adds home care and other long-term care providers to the definition of "multidisciplinary health care team." Authorizes health home services to be limited to those Medicaid, Basic Health Plan, and PEBB enrollees with complex, high cost, or multiple chronic conditions. Excludes the third-party health plan administering the public employee's health plan from having to expend any resource, beyond appropriated levels, to fund the health homes and chronic care management programs. Adds legislative findings regarding the need for primary care providers to coordinate with long term care providers and providers of oral health services. Specifies that the coordinated care provided by a primary care provider in a health home does not mean that prior authorization is required for a patient to receive treatment for optometry services.

Requires health home services to include the services defined as "health home services" under federal health reform, which includes comprehensive care management, care coordination and health promotion, comprehensive transitional care, patient and family support, referral to community and social support services, and using health information services technology to link services. Health home services may also include the services that were previously specified, but they are not required. The Health Care Authority (HCA) is not required to include health home services incentives in its managed care contracts and self-insured plans for public employees. The HCA is not required to establish a collaborative work group to promote health homes and provide annual reports on the efforts of the work group.

To require the Health Care Authority (HCA) to include health home services incentives in its managed care contracts and self-insured plans. Allows the HCA to prioritize health home services to enrollees with complex, high cost, or multiple chronic conditions. The amendment also directs the HCA to coordinate a discussion with carriers regarding successful chronic care management models and principles for effective reimbursement methods to incentivize chronic care health homes. Requires the HCA to report to the Legislature regarding the principles and actions taken by to implement the principles in state employee health benefits by December 1, 2012.

To require the Department of Social and Health Services and the Health Care Authority to incorporate health homes and chronic care management incentives into certain state-purchased health care contracts.

Senate concurred with the House amendments.