SB 5629 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning coverage requirements for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces.

SB 5629 mandates that large group health plans in Washington, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, must include coverage for medically necessary prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces. This coverage applies when devices are needed for daily living, essential job activities, or to maximize physical function. The bill also requires coverage for materials, instruction, and reasonable repair or replacement of these devices. It prohibits denying coverage for individuals with disabilities if similar services would be covered for non-disabled persons and requires health plans to report claims data.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill Engrossed Substitute Bill · 3 edits · Mar 6, 2025
MINOR
The bill was renamed to reflect its final version and expanded its applicability to include 'nongrandfathered' plans while explicitly excluding small group plans. It also added specific language to clarify that health plans must cover prosthetics and braces for individuals with disabilities when similar services are covered for nondisabled people.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by excluding small group health plans and grandfathered plans, while broadening the definition of covered plans to include all nongrandfathered group health plans.
SCOPE

Added 'nongrandfathered' to specify which plans are covered and explicitly excluded 'small group health plans' from the requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added the word 'subject' to sections 4, 5, and 6 to clarify that only plans subject to the new requirements must follow the rules regarding denial of coverage, utilization management, and payment levels.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from 'Substitute Senate Bill' to 'Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill' to indicate it has passed both legislative chambers.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

456
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
14 Yea 6 Nay
70% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors