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 >>

Thank you all who joined WSHA’s hospital advocacy day last week! We had a great turnout with about 75 hospital leaders joining us for about 80 legislative visits. This week is a busy week in Olympia with many bills of interest up for hearings. This is also a first for many of us at WSHA – multiple hearings have been cancelled and rescheduled due to snow. The legislature is known for powering through regardless of weather conditions. ... Read More >>

While revenue collections in the state continue to be strong, it appears that policy decisions made to fund future costs in the McCleary bill in the 2017-2019 biennium have led to the inability to spend money on any additional policy items without new revenue or cuts in other programs.... Read More >>

Highlights this week include bills on a public option for health care coverage, Certificate of Need for psychiatric beds and noncompete agreements. ... Read More >>