Health Planning

Overarching guidance for health planning as directed by the Washington State Legislature.

Blue Ribbon Commission

The 2006 Legislature formed the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on Health Care Costs and Access to find ways to provide accessible, affordable, quality health care for all Washingtonians.

• Blue Ribbon Commission Website
• Blue Ribbon Commission Final Report (pdf) - (January 2007)
• 2007 Blue Ribbon Commission Legislation (E2SSB 5930) (pdf)

Strategic Health Planning Office

In response to recommendations from the BRC, the 2007 Legislature created the Strategic Health Planning Office to:

• Serve as a coordinating body for pubic and private efforts to improve quality in health care, promote cost-effectiveness in health care, and plan health facility and health service availability (E2SSB 5930 section 51 (1)).
• Develop a health resources strategy establishing statewide health planning policies and goals related to the (regional) availability of health care facilities and services, quality of care and cost of care (E2SSB 5930 section 52 (1)).

Progress Reports

• March 2009 (update to TAC from Director of OFM)
• January 2009
• June 2008

Guiding Principles:
In conducting its work the office is committed to an ongoing process that:

• Complements and supports current health planning without duplicating existing efforts;
• Focuses on activities for which government is uniquely qualified;
• Maximizes the utility of available information and limited resources;
• Promotes coordination of existing projects and programs through dialogue and collaboration;
• Develops data and research to understand today's health-care system and anticipate the issues of tomorrow;
• Informs health policy discussions through targeted data collection and analysis that are applied and practical;
• Seeks relevant input and feedback in a broad and inclusive manner;
• Identifies opportunities for incremental system improvements rather than major reforms;
• Remains mindful of the potential impact of federal policies; and
• Creates products that are simple and understandable for policymakers, stakeholders and the public.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Directed by statute, the TAC's purpose is to provide technical expertise and advice about gaps in information and key planning priorities for the future of health care in Washington.

In response to guidance from the TAC to "focus" initial goals have been refined to target access to information that supports:

• a comprehensive understanding of Washington's health care system resource availability, use, and planning; and
• current public initiatives focused on healthcare delivery system improvements.

Committee Members (pdf)

November 13, 2008 Meeting
Meeting material: Agenda | Focus Areas and Next Steps | Dartmouth Atlas - How is Group Health Using It | Draft Health Resources Strategy

September 18, 2008 Meeting
Meeting material: Minutes | Agenda | Health Services Utilization | Creating A Health Facility Inventory | Examples of Health Workforce Studies and Issues Related to Data | Gathering Data for Performance Reporting | WSHA Efforts to Collect Outpatient Data

July 31, 2008 (First Meeting)
Meeting material: Minutes | Agenda | Legislative Summary | Workplan | Research Brief

Last modified: November 3, 2009
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov