WHEREAS, the State of Washington has determined that Personal Care

Workers scheduled for 20 or more hours per week should have health insurance as a benefit; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature has allowed Personal Care Workers receive Basic Health Plan coverage; and

WHEREAS, the county is a Home Care Agency that employees Personal Care Workers; and

WHEREAS, the state has reimbursed the County to pay the Basic Health Plan premium for its personal care workers; and

WHEREAS, ESSB 5180, Section 207(1) gives counties the option to use health service account funds to obtain health coverage for the Personal Care Workers through the Basic Health Plan or an equivalent alternative plan; and

WHEREAS, prior to January 1, 2002, Basic Health Plan provided coverage through Kaiser and Community Health Plan; and

WHEREAS, as of January 1, 2002, Kaiser no longer offers coverage under the Basic Health Plan and Community Health will not accept new unsubsidized (i.e. those who exceed the prescribed income limits) individuals; and

WHEREAS, the County employs or will employ Personal Care Workers who are ineligible for the Basic Health Plan, but are still entitled under ESSB 5180, Section 207, to a health plan that meets the minimum benefits of the Basic Health Plan; and

WHEREAS, alternative individual health insurance programs for Personal Care Workers have been explored and no individual plans are available; and

WHEREAS, the County’s current medical insurance plan through Kaiser meets the requirements of the Basic Health Plan, excluding dental and vision;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Skamania County Board of Commissioners that Personal Care Workers who are scheduled to work for 20 hours or more per week and are eligible to participate in the Basic Health Plan shall receive the Basic Health Plan insurance provided the state reimburses the County for the cost of such insurance; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Personal Care Workers who are scheduled to work for 20 or more hours per week, and are not eligible to participate in the Basic Health Plan shall be permitted to participate in the medical only (not dental or vision) portion of the County’s Kaiser Health Insurance Plan, provided the state reimburses the County for the cost of such insurance.

PASSED IN REGULAR SESSION this 1^st day of April, 2002.