Session begins with key hearings for 340B, contract change restrictions, and other hospital priorities

Hospital leaders can join advocacy efforts by “signing-in” to show your support or opposition to a bill. Links are included below for each bill. Sign-ins effectively communicate to legislative committee members the level of support or opposition an issue has.

Today marks the start of Washington State’s 2026 legislative session. Hospital issues are on the agenda, with four high priority bills up for hearings including: 340B drug discount program protections, new requirements for carrier contract changes, flexibility for inter-facility EMS transfers and supervision of IV contrast administration.

Hospital leaders can join advocacy efforts by “signing-in” to show your support or opposition to a bill. Links are included below for each bill. Sign-ins effectively communicate to legislative committee members the level of support or opposition an issue has.

This week’s top bills with hearings in Olympia 

HB 2106: Requiring carriers to provide substantive notice to health care providers and health care facilities about significant contract modifications. 

WSHA strongly supports HB 2106. The bill would limit surprise carrier-initiated contract changes by requiring them to give providers and facilities 90 days’ written notice for significant contract changes to payment or scope of services. The facility/provider would be able to review and either accept or reject the new policy. If rejected, the policy change would not go into effect for the provider, and the carrier would have an opportunity to renegotiate the change upon renewal of the contract.  

HB 2106 is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 1:30 p.m. WSHA will testify in support. Members can sign-in on HB 2106 before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. (Andrew Busz)  

HB 2110: Concerning personnel for ambulance service interfacility specialty care transports.  

WSHA strongly supports HB 2110, which would allow RNs with appropriate competencies to support interfacility patient transport without an EMT certification. Currently, Washington State requires either a paramedic or a registered nurse (RN) with an emergency medical technician (EMT) certification to provide care during these transports. Health care providers with this level of licensure and certification are increasingly unavailable, especially in rural parts of the state. Patients and hospitals need an alternative that remains safe for patients while also providing timely transportation and access to alternative sites of care.

HB 2110 will have a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee. WSHA will testify in support of the bill. Members can sign-in on HB 2110 by 12:30 pm on Tuesday. (Remy Kerr) 

SB 5981: Protecting patient access to discounted medications and health care services through Washington’s health care safety net by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program.  

WSHA strongly supports SB 5981, which would prohibit for-profit drug manufacturers from interfering with distribution of 340B drugs through unfavorable terms or conditions for 340B providers and their contract pharmacies. This bill is supported by 340B covered entities, including qualified safety net and critical access hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, HIV/AIDs clinics.

Many 340B hospitals expand patient access to services and medications through arrangements with pharmacies located within the patients’ communities. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), oversees the 340B program, audits the program and its entities, and has repeatedly affirmed that arrangements with contract community pharmacies are allowed under the program.     

For-profit drug manufacturers are increasingly trying to avoid giving this discount by interfering with the distribution of 340B drugs. This threatens the financial viability of safety net providers and access to needed drugs and services for the patients in their communities.  

SB 5981 will have a public hearing at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care. WSHA will testify in support. Members can sign in on SB 5981 by 7:00 a.m. on Friday. (Andrew Busz and Remy Kerr)  

HB 1496: Strengthening patients’ rights regarding their health care information.

WSHA is opposed to HB 1496. The bill imposes a flat fee cap of $50 on electronic record retrieval fees, regardless of the volume of records requested, the complexity of the request, or the administrative resources required to fulfill a request. Patients of hospitals already have access to their own medical records at no or reduced fees. This bill is being driven by the Trial Bar. Facilities would be forced to absorb the cost of fulfilling high volume or urgent requests from third parties for patient records.

HB 1496 will have a public hearing at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 in the House Committee on Health & Wellness. WSHA will testify in opposition. Members can sign in on HB 1496 by 7:00 a.m. Friday. (Mary Storace)  

Gov. Ferguson’s Budget Proposal 

WSHA has several concerns about proposals in the budget proposal released by Gov. Ferguson on Dec. 23, 2025. WSHA will raise these concerns during testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, Jan. 12 at 4:00 p.m. and again during the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 4:00 p.m. Details of WSHA’s response to the proposal can be found in last week’s issue of Inside Olympia. (Ashlen Strong)   

WSHA is weighing in on the following bills Jan. 12-16:

Monday, Jan. 12 

House Appropriations 
HB2289: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. Presentation of Governor’s proposed 2026 Supplemental Operating Budget by the Office of Financial Management. See article above. (Ashlen Strong)  

Tuesday, Jan. 13 

House Health Care & Wellness 
HB 2110: Concerning personnel for ambulance service interfacility specialty care transports. See article above. (Remy Kerr)  

HB 2113: Concerning the supervision of diagnostic radiologic technologists, therapeutic radiologic technologists, and magnetic resonance imaging technologists. See article above. (Katerina LaMarche)  

HB 2122: Requiring hospitals to offer immunizations for influenza in certain cases. (Mary Storace)  

HB 2152: Permitting the medical use of cannabis by qualifying patients in specified health care facilities. (Remy Kerr) 

House Labor & Workplace Standards
HB 2243: Including physical and occupational therapists as attending providers for workers’ compensation. (Remy Kerr) 

House Early Learning & Human Services
HB 2200: Increasing access to data related to the safety and stability of residential settings for individuals with developmental disabilities. (Zosia Stanley) 

Senate Ways & Means
SB 5998: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. (Ashlen Strong)  

Wednesday, Jan. 14 

House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans
HB 2157: Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use. (Jennifer Brackeen) 

House Health Care & Wellness 
HB 2106: Requiring carriers to provide substantive notice to health care providers and health care facilities about significant contract modifications. (Andrew Busz)  

House State Government & Tribal Relations 
HB 2176: Exempting information in collaborative drug therapy agreements from disclosure under the public records act. (Zosia Stanley) 

House Appropriations
HB 2289: Public Hearing – Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. Continued from January 12. (Ashlen Strong)  

Thursday, Jan. 15 

Senate Health & Long-Term Care 
SB 5967: Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions. (Mary Storace)  

Friday, Jan. 16 

House Health Care & Wellness 
HB 1496: Strengthening patients’ rights regarding their health care information.  (Mary Storace)  

HB 2242: Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions. (Mary Storace)  

House Labor & Workplace Standards 
HB 2218: Concerning access to medical care in workers’ compensation.  (Remy Kerr)   

Senate Health & Long-Term Care 
SB 6025: Updating the definition of fetal death. (Katerina LaMarche)  

SB 5981: Protecting patient access to discounted medications and health care services through Washington’s health care safety net by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program. See article above. (Andrew Busz/ Remy Kerr)  

House Labor & Workplace Standards
HB 2105: Public Hearing – Concerning immigrant worker protections. (Remy Kerr) 

HB 2218: Public Hearing – Concerning access to medical care in workers’ compensation. (Remy Kerr) 

Senate Ways & Means 
SB 5998: Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. (Ashlen Strong)