Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1.2.1. Analysis of current sources, covered benefits and costs of health care coverage for essential workers. Contractor will research, compile and report on current sources, covered benefits and costs of health care coverage for essential workers in Washington state, including but not limited to employer sponsored coverage, Medicaid, and individual health plans purchased through the Health Benefit Exchange. The report prepared under this paragraph will include employer and employee shares of health care premiums, the value (actuarial or otherwise) of the coverage provided, the scope of covered benefits, employee cost-sharing obligations and availability of coverage for dependents. 1.2.2 Policy options for the structure and oversight of a program to enhance health care coverage for essential workers. Contractor will research and report on the structure and oversight of current programs or new policy options for a program or programs to enhance essential worker health benefits, including expanding or modifying a program to enhance health benefits for nursing home employees developed under section 204(48) of ESSB 5950 (2024), the use of fully insured health plan coverage, a self-funded multiemployer welfare arrangement, the Washington state Health Benefit Exchange, or another entity to offer health benefits comparable to the gold or platinum metal level under the Affordable Care Act, and meet defined health plan design, consumer protection and solvency requirements. a. In reviewing options, the Contractor must include consideration of any proposal developed to enhance health benefits offered to employees of nursing homes under section 204(48) of ESSB 5950 (2024) and must evaluate whether that proposal could be expanded upon or modified to include additional groups of essential workers. b. In developing options, the contractor must include an analysis of programs adopted by other states to enhance health benefit coverage for essential workers. c. The analysis must include comparison of the relative costs of providing coverage through fully insured health coverage, e.g. a large group association health plan, a selffunded multiemployer welfare arrangement, or the Washington state Health Benefit Exchange...
