Thank you to everyone who was able to make the trip to Olympia last week for our second-annual Hospital Advocacy Days! We welcomed more than 100 members from more than 50 hospitals for more than 100 visits with legislators. Our strong presence at the capitol shows the commitment of our members to improving the health of their communities. The event was a great success, and we’re already looking forward to hosting it again in 2021. We’d like to give a special thanks to everyone who sent us photos for social media and took part in our photo and video features!
Many bills are moving through the process and Friday, Feb. 7, marks the deadline for bills to pass out of their committee of origin (unless they are deemed necessary to implement the budget – NTIB). If the bill doesn’t move out of committee and it is not NTIB, the bill is technically dead. Those that pass their committees of origin are next heard by budget or rules committees, which is the last hurdle to pass before a full chamber vote. Next week’s Inside Olympia will include a full listing of bills still alive following the cutoff.
Below are the high-priority bills that are up for a hearing this week in Olympia:
HB 2172: Protecting whistleblowers who provide information to the attorney general regarding anticompetitive transactions involving hospitals, hospital system or provider organizations
WSHA opposes HB 2172, which creates a new legal framework regarding reporting alleged violations of antitrust laws to the attorney general (AG) when health care entities merge or form affiliations. It creates whistleblower protections and creates new hospital liability for all costs incurred by the whistleblower if the attorney general takes legal action against health care entities. Hospitals and health systems often merge or form affiliations to maintain access to health services in their communities. In many cases this increases access to services for Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. We believe the legislature already acted in this area with a new law in 2019 requiring pre-transaction notice to the AG by health care entities. We believe this bill is unnecessary and will lead to frivolous litigation. HB 2172 will be heard Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary. (Zosia Stanley)
HB 2621 / SB 6359: Creating regulation exemptions for rural health clinics providing services in a designated home health shortage area
WSHA strongly supports HB 2621/SB 6359, which would allow Rural Health Clinics in shortage areas to offer a limited scope of services — including home nursing visits — to homebound patients, increasing access to critical services in underserved communities. SB 6359 was scheduled to be heard Jan. 29 in the Senate Committee on Health and Long-Term Care, but the committee was not able to get to the bill. The hearing was rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 3. Read the Jan. 27 Inside Olympia for more information about this bill and read WSHA’s issue brief for more background information about the topic. WSHA’s input played a key role in crafting this legislation. (Jacqueline Barton True)
WSHA Weighing In: February 3-7
WSHA is weighing in on the following bills this week:
Monday, Feb. 3
- House Committee on Finance (11:00am)
- ESSB 6492: Addressing workforce education investment funding through B&O tax reform. (Andrew Busz)
- Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (1:30pm)
- SB 6359: Creating regulation exemptions for rural health clinics providing services in a designated home health shortage area. (Jacqueline Barton True)
- SB 6400: Mitigating inequity in the health insurance market caused by health plans that exclude certain mandated benefits. (Andrew Busz)
- SB 6538: Prohibiting survey data in nursing licensure. (Lauren McDonald)
- SB 6551: Integrating international medical graduates into Washington’s health care delivery system. (Lauren McDonald)
Tuesday, Feb. 4
- House Committee on Finance (8am)
- HB 2907: Authorizing counties with populations over two million to impose an excise tax on business. (Andrew Busz)
- House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary (10:00am)
- HB 2172: Protecting whistleblowers who provide information to the attorney general regarding anticompetitive transactions involving hospitals, hospital systems, or provider organizations. (Zosia Stanley)
- House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (1:30pm)
- HB 2838: Improving cardiac and stroke outcomes. (Lauren McDonald)
- House Committee on Human Services & Early Learning (1:30pm)
- HB 2883: Expanding adolescent behavioral health care access. (Jaclyn Greenberg)
- Senate Committee on Ways & Means (3:30pm)
- SSB 6128: Extending coverage during the postpartum period. (Shirley Prasad)
Wednesday, Feb. 5
- Senate Committee on Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation (8am)
- SB 6585: Encouraging the use of medication-assisted treatment within jails. (Lauren McDonald)
- Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (1:30pm)
- SB 6209: Joining the nurse licensure compact. (Lauren McDonald)
- SB 6549: Adopting the psychology interjurisdictional compact. (Lauren McDonald)
- House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (1:30pm)
- HB 2615: Establishing the primary care collaborative. (David Streeter)
- House Committee on Appropriations (3:30pm)
- SHB 2318: Advancing criminal investigatory practices. (Lauren McDonald)
- Senate Committee on Ways & Means (3:30pm)
- SB 6053: Establishing wage liens. (Zosia Stanley)
Thursday, Feb. 6
- Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (8:00am)
- SB 6469: Improving access to behavioral health treatment in certified crisis facilities. (Jaclyn Greenberg)
- SB 6588: Updating the children’s mental health work group. (Jaclyn Greenberg)
Friday, Feb. 7
- Behavioral Health Subcommittee to the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health & Long Term Care (1:30pm)
- SB 6634: Expanding adolescent behavioral health care access. (Jaclyn Greenberg)
Thank you for testifying!
Thank you to everyone who has testified in support of WSHA’s legislative efforts:
- Will Callicoat, MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
- Jacqueline Butin, UW Medicine/Harborview Medical Center
- Kris Stone, EvergreenHealth
- Kim Barwell, CHI Franciscan Health
- Kim Cummins, MultiCare Health System
- Leslie Hiebert, Klickitat Valley Health
- Julie Petersen, Kittitas Valley Healthcare
- Diane Pirak, CHI Franciscan Health
- Dr. Christine Palermo, Virginia Mason Medical Center
