The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced the request for proposal process for procurement of public option – known as Cascade Care Select – plans for the 2023 plan year. The first RFP was for two years and ends December 31, 2022. This RFP is for coverage effective January 1, 2023. A copy of the HCA Notice of Competitive Solicitation is here.
Senate Bill 5377, enacted during the 2021 Washington State legislative session, requires hospitals that receive an offer from a public option plan to contract with at least one public option plan for the 2023 plan year. Contracting for these plans is underway now, so we recommend hospitals consider the requirement as they receive offers from insurers to contract. Public option plans will generally be identified as “Cascade Care Select” plans, but hospitals should seek clarification from insurers if unclear whether an offer is for a public option plan. WSHA is monitoring the RFP process and actively involved in rulemaking regarding enforcement of the contracting requirement. More information is in our recent Bulletin. (Andrew Busz, AndrewB@wsha.org).
