2019 New Law Implementation Guide

The 2019 Legislative Session may be over but implementation of the new laws has just begun. WSHA’s Government Affairs team is preparing resources to help hospitals understand, prepare and ultimately implement all the new laws which will soon go into effect.  

On this page, you will find a list of the high priority laws that WSHA is preparing resources and information on. The implementation schedule below identifies the new law, bill number, whether hospital action is required, the resource(s) WSHA is preparing, a timeline for the release of the resources, the effective date of the laws, and the policy director who can help address any follow up questions. This page will be updated regularly, as new resources are released.

Recent and Upcoming Events & Publications

Sixteen bulletins have been released and are available at the links below. They address peer review/whistleblower, sexual assault survivor services, wrongful death, the public option, balance billing, uninterrupted breaks, debt collection, adolescent behavioral health services (including family initiated treatment), maternal mortality, medical decision making, telemedicine training and credentialing, patient notice re: provider sexual misconduct, and behavioral health. There are also two bulletins available to members upon request on the new B&O tax (HB 2158) and hospital policies (SB 5602).

Presentation materials from several WSHA webinars on the new laws have also been released, including slides from the presentations on uninterrupted breaks, the public option and balance billing, debt collection and adolescent behavioral health services (including family initiated treatment).

Coming this Fall, we will be releasing bulletins on the following topics:

1. Behavioral Health:  HB 1394, HB 1109, HB 1768, HB 1907 and SB 5054
2. Opiods: SB 5380
3. Safety net assessment: SB 5734
4. Workplace Safety: HB 1931
5. Long Term Care Trust Act: HB 1087
6. AGO breach: HB 1071

New Law Implementation Schedule

Many laws become effective 90 days after session ended, on July 28, 2019. Some laws will become effective at a pre-determined later day, or may even be retroactive. Hospital administrators and executives are strongly encouraged to review the timetable below to ensure they are taking timely and appropriate steps in advance of a law’s effective date. The Government Affairs team will release resources in advance of a law’s effective date to assist members’ own education, planning and implementation plans.

Last updated September 26, 2019