EXECUTIVE ORDER  95-06

ESTABLISHING THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTH CARE OUTREACH
TASKFORCE FOR ETHNIC, MINORITY AND OTHER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS

WHEREAS, it is one of this Governor's top priorities to promote increased access to health care services for all Washington residents; and

WHEREAS, the success of the Basic Health Plan and the Medicaid program expansion for children in families up to 200% of the federal poverty level has led to a significant expansion of the availability of affordable health care for working families; and

WHEREAS, historically, within the population of those who have health insurance, the ethnic and minority communities have been underserved and the Basic Health Plan and Department of Social and Health Services are striving to achieve appropriate representation from within these communities; and

WHEREAS, it would not be possible to reach optimum health insurance enrollment goals with the before-mentioned communities without community based efforts and public private partnerships;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Lowry, Governor of the state of Washington, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby establish the Governor's Health Care Outreach Task Force.

1. The Task Force is charged with the responsibility to work with the Health Care Authority and DSHS's Medical Assistance Administration to review current outreach activities and make recommendations for the building of successful and sustainable systems within and among communities that will result in increased access to health coverage and health care in traditionally underserved communities, including ethnic, minority populations and people with limited or no English language proficiency.

2. The Task Force will have the following goals:

a. Creation of effective systems to increase enrollment in the Basic Health Plan, BHP Plus and other Medical Assistance programs among ethnic, minority and underserved populations.

b. Develop successful models for providing information on health coverage in target communities.

c. Establish information structures for the target communities focusing on: access to available coverage, health care choices, and methods for expressing personal health beliefs and preferences to health providers.

d. Increase the involvement of community leaders and key organizations in providing information on health care access in their communities.

e. Promote peer outreach to minimize cultural barriers to health care access.

3. The following results will be expected from the Task Force:

a. Provision of appropriate information on health coverage in target communities; and

b. Development of sustainable community-based efforts that will assure continued enrollment in the state's health programs.

4. The Governor shall appoint the members of the Task Force and the Task Force chair.

5. The Task Force will report to the Governor.

6. The Task Force will meet monthly. Task Force members will be reimbursed for expenses according to RCW 43.03.050.

7. The Task Force shall advise the Governor on legislative and executive proposals.

8.This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and terminate May 31, 1996.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
15th day of December A.D., Nineteen hundred and ninety-five.

Mike Lowry
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Secretary of State

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