62nd WYOMING LEGISLATURE

PROPOSED INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2014 INTERIM

JOINT LABOR, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES INTERIM COMMITTEE

Standard Budget:     $50,000.00

Priority #: 1     Health Care Reform

Health care reform will continue to be a complex and moving target and several recent committee initiatives will require follow-up attention. The Committee will investigate and monitor:

     •      Why Wyoming medical costs are higher than other states

     •      Medicaid 1115 waiver expansion negotiations

     •      Federal impacts and possible state responses from other parts of the Affordable Care Act, including health insurance exchanges

     • Medicaid reform effort

     • The Wyoming Health Insurance Pool -- extension of sunset and possible use as a qualified health plan under the ACA

     •      The health information exchange effort.

Priority #: 2     Health Care Provider Access

Wyoming has a shortage of health care providers.  The Committee will study issues related to improving provider access, including:

     • Extension of the Wyoming Investment in Nursing loan and grant program;

     •      Review of the status and effectiveness of University of Wyoming health education programs

     • Licensure of allied and alternative health care professions, acupuncture licensure and the possible consolidation of smaller licensing boards

Priority #: 3     Mental Health and Prevention Management

The Committee will study access and quality of care issues in the state's mental health system, including overall access to substance abuse/mental health care, suicide prevention and the prevention management organization, and employee drug testing at the state institutions.

Priority #: 4     Review of Reports

The Committee currently receives 30+ periodic reports from the departments of Health, Workforce Services and Family Services.  The Committee will respond as necessary to issues raised by the reports.  The Committee will study the continued need for each of the reports and the possible elimination or consolidation of some reports as no longer necessary.

Priority #: 5     Workers' Compensation

The Committee will study and investigate changes to the workers' compensation experience rating system and implementation of the workplace safety grant program