Activity in Olympia remains brisk, with discussions unfolding on high‑impact clinical standards, workforce and emergency services operation, and new regulatory expectations for hospitals and related providers. Debate also continues over consumer protections, emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and the balance of state and federal oversight in areas such as pharmaceutical safety, health data, and market consolidation.
The session is a couple of weeks in, and challenges are always part of the process. Lawmakers have generally been receptive to hospitals’ concerns and suggested amendments, and WSHA member’s thoughtful testimony is directly influencing the dialogue and driving solutions.
This week’s top bills with hearings in Olympia
HB 2250: Concerning residency requirements for charity care. SUPPORT
WSHA is pleased that HB 2250, which limits charity care eligibility for non-emergency care to Washington State residents, will receive its first public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Prior to 2023, the Department of Health interpreted the state law to allow hospitals to establish geographic restrictions on charity care eligibility for non-emergency services. Boundaries could be a service area, the state of Washington or a region of multiple states.
In 2023, the department reversed itself and required hospitals to provide charity care for non-emergent procedures to anyone who comes to the state for any care, meets financial criteria and applies. This interpretive change occurred following the 2022 legislative expansion of financial eligibility requirements for charity care. The expanded eligibility requirements have increased uncompensated care burdens, intensifying hospitals’ financial strain and further jeopardizing the long‑term stability of Washington’s health care system.
The bill preserves full access to charity care for anyone needing emergency or trauma services, while allowing hospitals to restrict resources for non‑emergent care to Washington State residents. Under this framework, hospitals may still adopt more generous charity care policies but would only be obligated to offer non‑emergent charity care to residents of Washington State.
HB 2250 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. WSHA strongly supports this bill. Members can sign-in on HB 2250 before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. (Katerina LaMarche)
HB 2545: Concerning patient access to elective percutaneous coronary interventions in ambulatory OPPOSE
WSHA is opposed to HB 2545. This legislation would expand access to elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) by directing the Department of Health to create new certificate‑of‑need rules allowing these high‑risk cardiac procedures to be performed in ambulatory surgical facilities rather than limiting them to hospitals with on‑site cardiac surgery.
While the bill aims to increase convenience and availability, it would shift complex cardiac care away from settings equipped to manage complications. The move would undermine regional cardiac care systems and threaten hospital‑based cardiac programs that rely on consistent case volumes to sustain staff expertise, emergency readiness and training programs.
The bill risks fragmenting care, weakening patient safety safeguards and destabilizing the state’s existing cardiac care infrastructure.
HB 2545 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 a.m. WSHA opposes this bill. Members can sign-in on HB 2250 before 7 a.m. Friday. (Remy Kerr)
HB 2613: Establishing safety and regulatory requirements for compounded medications.
WSHA opposes HB 2613 and the substantial new compliance and operational burdens it would place on hospitals and hospital-based pharmacies.
The bill creates rigid sourcing, documentation and regulatory requirements for active pharmaceutical ingredients in response to concerns about illicit or substandard products entering the supply chain. In practice, these mandates would require hospitals to overhaul procurement systems, add costly layers of verification and reporting and risk limiting access to essential compounded medications if suppliers are unable to meet the new standards.
HB 2613 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 a.m. WSHA opposes this bill. Members can sign-in on HB 2613 before 7 a.m. Friday. (Andrew Busz)
SB: 5823: Concerning patient advocates
WSHA is concerned SB 5823 would create new requirements related to “patient advocates,” adding hospital obligations without clearly defining roles, scope of authority or how these advocates would integrate into patient support, care coordination and complaint‑resolution systems. As drafted, the legislation is likely to add operational challenges. This lack of clarity could lead to overlapping duties, increased administrative burden, and potential confusion for both patients and care teams. Hospitals may also face new compliance risks if expectations for training, documentation or the authority of patient advocates are not well‑defined. WSHA is working to amend the bill.
SB 5823 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 8 a.m. WSHA will testify with concerns about the bill. (Remy Kerr)
HB: 2564 – Concerning the health plan certification process. OPPOSE
WSHA has significant reservations about HB 2564. This legislation reshapes the state’s health plan certification for the individual insurance market by allowing the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to impose new access and affordability criteria on plans offered through the exchange. Although framed as expanding consumer choice, as written the bill risks pushing plans toward lower-cost designs that rely on narrower networks and lower reimbursement rates.
These pressures would directly impact hospitals and further strain already thin margins, particularly for safety-net hospitals. It could also increase patient churn and delays in accessing care. Hospitals would face added administrative burden as plans adjust network participation and reporting requirements to meet new certification standards.
SB 2564 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. WSHA will testify raising concerns about this bill. Members can sign-in on SB 2564 before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. (Jennifer Brackeen)
SB 6284 – Providing consumer protections for artificial intelligence systems
WSHA is raising concerns about the way SB 6284 would function in health care settings. Hospitals support strong consumer protections and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, however, it is important that any regulation clearly distinguish between AI systems that make consequential determinations about a patient, and AI-enabled tools hospitals may use every day for administrative and operational and quality functions.
As drafted, the bill’s definitions could be read to apply to routine AI-enabled tools used by HIPAA-covered entities for administrative, operational, quality improvement, and clinical decision-support purposes—even when those tools do not make or drive determinations about patent care and treatment. Capturing these tools could unintentionally create compliance challenges or discourage the use of technologies that improve patient safety, care coordination, and clinical efficiency. WSHA is seeking a clarifying amendment to this bill.
SB 6482 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. (Jennifer Brackeen)
WSHA is weighing in on the following bills Jan. 19-23:
Tuesday, Jan. 27
House Health Care & Wellness
HB 1812: Concerning patient-centered equitable access to anesthesia services and reimbursement. (Andrew Busz)
HB 2232: Improving system outcomes for time-sensitive emergencies. (Jacqueline Barton True)
HB 2250: Concerning residency requirements for charity care. (Katerina LaMarche)
HB 2340: Applying substance use disorder monitoring program provisions to nursing assistants. (Remy Kerr)
HB 2577: Concerning hospital inspections. (Mary Storace and Remy Kerr)
Senate Environment
- SB 6284: Providing consumer protections for artificial intelligence systems. (Jennifer Brackeen)
Senate Health & Long-Term Care
- SB 5185: Establishing preceptorship and hardship pathways to medical practice for international medical graduates. (Katarina LaMarche)
Wednesday, Jan. 28
House Health Care & Wellness
HB 2599: Protecting the integrity of therapy and psychotherapy services. (Jennifer Brackeen)
Thursday, Jan. 29
House Health Care & Wellness
HB 2564: Concerning the health plan certification process. (Jennifer Brackeen)
Senate Health & Long-Term Care
- SB:6292 Establishing a joint legislative executive committee on health care financing. (Ashlen Strong)
- SB:5823 Concerning patient advocates. (Remy Kerr)
Friday, Jan. 30
Senate Health & Long-Term Care
- SB 6305: Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act. (Ashlen Strong)
House Health Care & Wellness
- HB 2613: Establishing safety and regulatory requirements for compounded medications. (Andrew Busz)
- HB 2545: Concerning patient access to elective percutaneous coronary interventions in ambulatory surgical facilities. (Remy Kerr)
Thank you for testifying!
- Mike Glenn, Jefferson Healthcare
- Matt Lund, UW Medicine
- Margrette Ramirez, Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Adam Dittemore, EvergreenHealth