The Legislature has reached a budget agreement for the 2019-2021 biennium, which will allow the 2019 legislative session to conclude on time on April 28. ... Read More >>
SHB 1155 passed the Senate with an amendment that would limit all nursing shifts to eight hours in a 24-hour period. It would be a strict prohibition on longer shifts, with no exceptions. We strongly oppose the amendment.... Read More >>
Wednesday, April 3 was the policy cutoff for bills in the opposite chamber. Many of the bills WSHA supported continue to move through the process, but a small handful of very troubling bills continues to advance as well.... Read More >>
Today, the Senate released its proposed 2019-21 operating budget, following the release of its capital budget earlier in the week. The Senate’s budget contains similar themes as the House budget, and it is also positive for health care. ... Read More >>
Earlier today, the House released its proposed 2019-21 budget. It is positive overall, with no cuts to health care. It also funds the hospital Safety Net Assessment amd invests in behavioral health.... Read More >>
For the next couple of weeks, WSHA will feature bills that are receiving hearings and continuing to move through the process. We expect budgets to be released from each chamber in the next week or so. ... Read More >>
Many of the bills WSHA is working on that have passed their chamber of origin. The next major cutoff is Wednesday, April 3, when bills must be referred to policy committees in the opposite chamber. ... Read More >>
The House and Senate are now considering bills that have advanced through their respective committees, giving them an opportunity to be voted on in either the House or Senate floor. ... Read More >>
We are pleased to report that SB 5344, the proactive nurse fatigue bill supported by WSHA, has advanced through the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care. Contacts made by hospital leaders and staff to legislators encouraging their support of the bill has been crucial to ensure this bill passed this first hurdle in the legislative process. ... Read More >>
HB 1523/SB 5556 would allow health insurance carriers to offer Washingtonians the option to purchase lower-costing health insurance coverage on the Health Benefit Exchange (the individual market). WSHA supports expanding access to health care coverage, but we have concerns with this bill. ... Read More >>
