This week marked the halfway point of the legislative session and the first fiscal committee cutoff. By the end of the day Monday, Feb. 9, bills with a fiscal impact to the state or local governments had to pass out of their fiscal committees to remain alive. 

WSHA priorities continue to move forward. EMS specialty care transports (SHB 2110) passed off the House floor yesterday and next moves to the Senate. Timely payment (SB 5845) advanced, along with both the House and Senate 340B protection bills (SHB 2145 / SSB 5981). A bill that raised concerns for hospitals related to consumer protections for artificial intelligence (SB 6284) was scheduled in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means but did not advance. 

A full list of the bills WSHA is tracking is included below. The next major cutoff is Tuesday, Feb. 17, when bills must pass out of their house of origin to remain in play. Those that survive will then start the process all over again in the opposite chamber. 

Looking ahead, expect fast and fluid floor action. WSHA is working to get priority bills queued up and ready for full votes in both chambers. As legislation heads to the floor, watch for action alerts asking hospitals to email lawmakers and help push these bills across the finish line. 

This week’s top bills with hearings in Olympia  

ESSB 5124 – Establishing network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals. 

ESSB 5124 would improve access to timely and predictable, medically necessary post‑acute care for Medicaid patients by requiring network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in managed care contracts. WSHA strongly supports the bill. By directing the Health Care Authority to establish standards that consider time, distance, and bed availability, SB 5124 would help patients transition more quickly to the right level of care and create more consistent, predictable access across the state. The bill had a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in House Health Care & Wellness. (Remy Kerr) 

Bills still alive after cutoff

This week marked the halfway point of the legislative session and the first fiscal committee cutoff. By the end of the day Monday, Feb. 9, bills with a fiscal impact to the state or local governments had to pass out of their fiscal committees to remain alive. 

WSHA priorities continue to move forward. EMS specialty care transports (SHB 2110) passed off the House floor yesterday and next moves to the Senate. Timely payment (SB 5845) advanced, along with both the House and Senate 340B protection bills (SHB 2145 / SSB 5981). A bill that raised concerns for hospitals related to consumer protections for artificial intelligence (SB 6284) was scheduled in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means but did not advance. 

A full list of the bills WSHA is tracking is included below. The next major cutoff is Tuesday, Feb. 17, when bills must pass out of their house of origin to remain in play. Those that survive will then start the process all over again in the opposite chamber. 

Looking ahead, expect fast and fluid floor action. WSHA is working to get priority bills queued up and ready for full votes in both chambers. As legislation heads to the floor, watch for action alerts asking hospitals to email lawmakers and help push these bills across the finish line. 

This week’s top bills with hearings in Olympia  

ESSB 5124 – Establishing network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals. 

ESSB 5124 would improve access to timely and predictable, medically necessary post‑acute care for Medicaid patients by requiring network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in managed care contracts. WSHA strongly supports the bill. By directing the Health Care Authority to establish standards that consider time, distance, and bed availability, SB 5124 would help patients transition more quickly to the right level of care and create more consistent, predictable access across the state. The bill had a hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in House Health Care & Wellness. (Remy Kerr) 
 
 
Bills WSHA supports

SB 5845  

Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers.  

 SB 5395  

Prior authorization requirements for health insurers  

SHB 2110  

EMS specialty care transports  

HB 2113  

Supervision of radiologic and MRI technologists performing IV contrast procedures  

SHB 2145/ SSB 5981  

Concerning the 340B drug pricing program 

SB 5124  

Establishing network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals  

HB 2340  

Adding nursing assistants to the substance use disorder monitoring program  

SHB 2439  

Tobacco product policy  

 HB 2255  

Litigation financing   

SHB 2577  

Hospital inspections  

SB 6129  

Cigarette and nicotine product tax  

HB 1589   

Concerning the relationships between health carriers and contracting providers (HB 2106 relating to health carrier contract changes was amended onto this bill)  
Bills WSHA worked to amend to address concerns   
 

 SB 5906  

Establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents  

SHB 2152  

Medical cannabis  

SHB 2402  

Phthalates in medical equipment used for intravenous purposes  

HB 2122  

Requiring hospitals to offer immunizations for influenza in certain cases. 

HB 2339  

Nursing regulations   

SSB 6210  

Health plan certification  

SHB 2157  

High risk artificial intelligence 
Bills with which WSHA has concerns and is working to amend

SB 6173/HB 2300  

Creating an apple health employer assessment  

HB 2100  

Payroll tax to fund the Well Washington account  

HB 2626  

Increasing the insurance premium tax on certain health insurance providers (reduces safety net assessment payments to hospitals)  

HB 2685  

Improving the state governmental public health system and the health system and health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives through the sharing and protection of tribal data  

HB 1784  

Medical assistant order entry and activation  

 HB 1496  

Strengthening patients’ rights regarding their health care information (medical records fees cap for third parties)  
Bills WSHA opposes

2SSB 5387  

Corporate practice of health care  

HB 2545  

Patient access to elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in ambulatory surgical facilities  

HB 1496/SB 5254  

Strengthening patients’ rights regarding their health care information (medical records fees cap for third parties)  

 SHB 2548   

 Strengthening health care market standards (health care transaction oversight)  

SSB 5993  

Interest on medical debt  

SHB 1155/SSB 5437  

Prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying non-solicitation agreements  

HB 2218/SSB 5847  

Access to medical care in workers’ compensation  

SB 6152  

Including physical and occupational therapists as attending providers for workers’ compensation  
Notable bills no longer moving forward 
 

 HB 2250  

Protecting access to health care services for Washington state residents through limiting charity care to those individuals that meet Washington state residency requirements  

HB 2232  

Improving system outcomes for time-sensitive emergencies  

SSB 6296  

Relating to involuntary treatment  

 SSB 5823  

Patient advocates  

SHB 2144  

Employee electronic monitoring notices  

HB 2372/SB 6067  

Workers’ compensation benefits  

SB 6284/HB 2667  

Consumer protections for artificial intelligence systems  
Bills aimed at all businesses on which WSHA is neutral 

HB 2264  

Unemployment insurance benefits for workers separated from employment as a result of employer-initiated layoffs or workforce reductions  

SHB 2471/SSB 6617  

Collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act  

HB 2724/SB 6346  

Establishing a tax on millionaires  

2SSB 5292  

Paid family and medical leave rates  

WSHA is weighing in on the following bills Feb. 9-13:

Tuesday, Feb. 10
House Health Care & Wellness
ESSB 5124 Establishing network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals. (Remy Kerr)

Thank you for testifying!

Thank you to everyone who testified in support of WSHA’s legislative efforts last week:   

  • Deena Hannen, MultiCare