Healthcare

passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1394: Concerning the retention of hospital medical records.

House Bill 1394 modifies the requirements for how long hospitals in Washington State must retain medical records. It mandates that hospitals preserve all medical records for a minimum of 26 years from the date the record was created, replacing the prior 10-year retention period. This new rule applies to both existing records currently held by hospitals and all future medical records, allowing for retention in paper, electronic, or other formats. It also clarifies that all information from each unique patient visit is considered a medical record under this section.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends medical record retention to 26 years, enhancing patient record accessibility and continuity of care per healthcare protection indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5388: Concerning department of corrections behavioral health certification.

Senate Bill 5388 revises how behavioral health services, including substance use disorder treatment, are regulated for individuals in Washington state correctional facilities. Rather than requiring these services to be licensed by the Department of Health (DOH), the bill shifts to a monitoring process. The Department of Corrections (DOC) and DOH will jointly establish standards for these services, which the DOH will then monitor through annual inspections for compliance. The DOC must implement these standards by July 1, 2027, with DOH beginning annual inspections and providing technical assistance from that date forward.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill revises behavioral health oversight in prisons to improve treatment access, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform by shifting to joint standards with annual monitoring.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes joint DOC-DOH standards for behavioral health services in prisons, ensuring continued access to mental health/substance use treatment through monitoring, not licensing, strengthening care delivery.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5291: Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission.

SB 5291 strengthens the WA Cares long-term care program by implementing recommendations from the long-term services and supports trust commission. The bill allows individuals who have paid into the program for at least three years while working in Washington to continue their participation and eligibility for benefits even if they move out of state. It also establishes a clear process for how the program's benefit unit, currently up to $100, will be adjusted annually for inflation using a specific consumer price index. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of approved services to explicitly include long-term services and supports provided in nursing homes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens WA Cares long-term care program by expanding eligibility (out-of-state moves) and adjusting benefits for inflation, directly advancing healthcare access and coverage for long-term services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands portability of long-term care benefits for workers, ensuring continued eligibility after relocation and inflation adjustments, directly strengthening employment-related benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5579: Prohibiting health carriers, facilities, and providers from making any public statements of any potential or planned contract terminations unless it satisfies a legal obligation.

SB 5579 prohibits health carriers, facilities, and providers from making public statements about potential or planned contract terminations until 45 days before the termination date, unless legally required. This aims to provide consistent policies for communicating with health plan enrollees and affected communities during contract negotiations. The bill directs the Insurance Commissioner to develop standard templates for patient notices, which must include information on affected facilities, appointment guidance, and continuity of care rights. Violations by carriers can result in monetary penalties, while violations by providers or facilities can be referred to relevant licensing or disciplinary authorities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient communication rights during contract negotiations by standardizing notices and preventing premature announcements, ensuring consistent information for enrollees.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 1468: Concerning accounts.

HB 1468 repeals numerous existing state accounts across various sectors, such as the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Account and the Washington State Flag Account. Simultaneously, it establishes an annual eight-dollar surcharge on licenses for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. These surcharge funds will be deposited into a new Nursing Resource Center Account. This account will provide grants to a central nursing resource center. The center's mission is to strengthen Washington's nursing workforce through activities like data collection, trend monitoring, and promoting nursing careers to ensure adequate healthcare staffing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates $8 annual surcharge on nurse licenses to fund Nursing Resource Center grants, strengthening nursing workforce support per bill's mission to strengthen Washington's healthcare capacity.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1709: Addressing the care of students with adrenal insufficiency by parent-designated adults.

HB 1709 authorizes trained, parent-designated adults to provide care, including administering emergency medication, to students with adrenal insufficiency in Washington public schools. The bill requires school districts to develop individual health plans for these students and adopt policies for their care, such as medication storage and emergency procedures. Parent-designated adults must volunteer, be authorized by the student's parents, and complete specific training. This legislation also extends liability protection to school districts, employees, and these designated adults who act in good faith according to the student's health plan. This measure aims to ensure students with adrenal insufficiency receive necessary medical support when a school nurse is not available.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates school health protocols for students with medical needs, ensuring educational access and safety in schools through required individual health plans and trained personnel.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures access to emergency medication for students with adrenal insufficiency via trained parent-designated adults and mandates school health plans, directly improving patient access to critical care services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1427: Concerning certified peer support specialists.

This bill, HB 1427, is titled "Concerning certified peer support specialists." The provided text details amendments to state contracting for behavioral health services, affecting Medicaid recipients and other eligible individuals. It mandates the state's health authority to adopt statewide network adequacy standards for behavioral health providers within managed care organizations, ensuring timely access to mental health and substance use disorder treatments. The bill also outlines criteria for selecting managed care organizations, emphasizing experience with low-income populations and integrated care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates statewide network adequacy standards for behavioral health providers to ensure timely access to mental health/substance use treatments, advancing patient access under healthcare policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1162: Concerning workplace violence in health care settings.

HB 1162 requires all health care settings in Washington to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan to protect their employees. These plans must address factors such as physical security, staffing patterns, employee training, and procedures for reporting violent acts. The bill mandates annual reviews and updates of these plans and requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations into every workplace violence incident. Findings from these investigations, along with incident data, must be regularly summarized and submitted to a relevant workplace committee to identify systemic causes and recommend plan modifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates workplace violence prevention plans for healthcare settings, directly protecting medical professionals and supporting healthcare service delivery as defined in the topic.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires healthcare safety plans, training, and investigations to protect employees from workplace violence, directly improving workplace safety protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 5351: Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.

Senate Bill 5351 aims to ensure patient choice and access to dental care by regulating dental insurance practices. It prohibits dental-only plans from denying coverage solely because multiple procedures were performed on the same day, while still allowing denials for reasons like fraud or medical necessity. The bill also requires dental insurers to offer providers a fee-free alternative if they pay claims using credit cards. Additionally, it mandates annual public reporting of dental-only plan financial data and establishes a collaborative forum to study dental loss ratios and provider payment rates, with recommendations due by June 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits unfair dental insurance denials, ensures access to care, and mandates transparency - directly advancing patient access and rights in dental coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1130: Concerning utilization of developmental disabilities waivers.

HB 1130 establishes a prioritization system for individuals with developmental disabilities seeking home and community-based services waivers in Washington State. It directs the Developmental Disabilities Administration to prioritize specific populations, such as those over age 45, individuals discharging from institutional settings, or those without a safe hospital discharge plan. The bill also mandates the administration to align its rules with this prioritization and to routinely collect and publicly report data on waiver enrollment, waitlists, and unfulfilled service requests. This aims to ensure that individuals identified as most in need receive timely access to critical support services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes prioritization for home/community-based services waivers for developmental disabilities, improving patient access to essential healthcare services. Aligns with healthcare support indicators by expanding coverage for vulnerable pop...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare