Healthcare (Insurance)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2564: Concerning the health plan certification process.

HB 2564 requires Washington's health benefit exchange to add new state-specific criteria to its health plan certification process, directly affecting health insurance plans sold through the state's marketplace. The bill mandates the exchange to annually review market conditions and develop certification criteria focused on improving access and affordability - including factors like cost-sharing, provider networks, and premium differences - before certifying plans for the next year. These criteria must be developed with public input from insurers, tribes, and health care stakeholders, following a detailed timeline including public hearings. The change supplements existing federal certification standards but targets Washington residents' specific access and affordability challenges in the insurance marketplace.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates new certification criteria to improve access/affordability via cost-sharing, provider networks, and premiums in health insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6210: Concerning the health plan certification process.

SB 6210 authorizes Washington's health insurance exchange to add new certification criteria for health plans sold through the state marketplace, specifically to improve access and affordability for residents purchasing coverage via the exchange. The bill amends state law to let the exchange develop additional standards beyond the existing federal 19 criteria, focusing on cost and availability issues. It clarifies that the Insurance Commissioner retains primary oversight of rate increases and provider networks, which remain unchanged. This directly affects Washington residents who buy health insurance through the state exchange. The policy change aims to stabilize the insurance market without altering the Commissioner's existing responsibilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes new certification criteria to improve exchange plan access/affordability, directly advancing healthcare coverage access per summary's focus on cost/availability issues.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2626: Increasing the insurance premium tax on certain health insurance providers.

HB 2626 increases Washington State's insurance premium tax for certain health insurance providers. Starting March 1, 2027, it raises the tax rate from 2% to 3% on premiums collected by health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded health plans. A new 1% tax also applies to disability insurers and certain group stop-loss insurers beginning March 1, 2028. Providers must pay these taxes in installments (45% by June 15, 25% by September 15, 25% by December 15) annually, with exemptions for Medicare/Medicaid payments and specific dental services. The bill directly affects these insurers by altering their tax obligations under state law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state tax revenue from insurers via higher rates (2%→3%, new 1%), directly strengthening budget through additional tax collection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases tax on health insurers to generate revenue for healthcare funding, aligning with 'funds' indicator for support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 6159: Strengthening public hospitals.

This bill allows public hospital districts in Washington to form cooperative agreements without competing with each other, enabling shared services, combined equipment purchases, and joint contracts to support their public mission. It specifically amends laws to permit these arrangements for serving vulnerable populations, including low-income and uninsured patients. Additionally, the bill creates a new $0.75 annual assessment per insurance coverage month for insurers, with penalties for late payment, to fund public hospital infrastructure. The policy directly affects public hospital districts, publicly owned health care entities, and health insurers in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $0.75 insurer tax to fund public hospital cooperative agreements and services for vulnerable populations, directly advancing public budgeting for essential healthcare.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables public hospital cooperation to serve vulnerable populations and creates insurer assessment for funding, directly strengthening public hospital services and access for low-income/uninsured patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6031: Enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance.

SB 6031 updates Washington state's insurance fraud laws to address modern schemes, including medical billing fraud using incorrect CPT/HCPCS codes. It expands the definition of "insurer" to cover more insurance types and defines specific fraud acts - like submitting false medical claims, misrepresenting services, or embezzling premiums - as a class B felony. The bill requires restitution for insurers and victims of fraud, clarifies where cases can be prosecuted, and targets organized fraud impacting both insurers and consumers. It directly affects insurers, health care providers (through medical coding rules), and insurance consumers by strengthening enforcement and penalties for fraudulent activities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill classifies insurance fraud as class B felony, strengthens enforcement, and requires restitution, directly advancing criminal justice through sentencing and public safety measures.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets medical billing fraud (specifically false CPT/HCPCS claims) to protect insurers and victims, strengthening integrity of healthcare insurance system and preventing misuse of healthcare funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Insurance

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 6199: Concerning contributions in the state paid family and medical leave program.

This bill adjusts how employer and employee contributions are distributed between family leave and medical leave premiums in Washington's state paid leave program. It specifies that employers may deduct up to 40% of the family leave premium and up to 45% of the medical leave premium from employee wages, while maintaining the total premium rate. Employers with fewer than 50 employees in the state are exempt from paying the employer portion of premiums, though they may choose to pay and qualify for state assistance. The bill also sets a maximum total premium rate of 1.20% and prevents local governments from creating competing leave programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdjusts medical leave premium structure to maintain access, ensuring workers can take time for health needs without income loss, aligning with healthcare access support.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentIncreases employee wage deductions for leave premiums (up to 40%/45%), reducing net take-home pay without strengthening benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Paid Leave

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 6305: Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act.

SB 6305 requires health insurance companies in Washington to annually report detailed, standardized data about mental health and substance use coverage. Insurers must submit information on in-network provider availability, reimbursement rates, out-of-network utilization, and access metrics (like youth services and telehealth) by July 1 each year. The state will publish all raw data and create an interactive public dashboard by October, allowing consumers and employers to compare insurers' coverage transparency. This addresses documented gaps where Washington residents face significantly greater barriers accessing mental health care than medical care, as highlighted by recent studies. The bill directly affects all health insurance carriers operating in Washington and aims to improve transparency for patients seeking behavioral health services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to report mental health coverage data for public transparency, improving consumer access and accountability in mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 6140: Establishing solvency protections for the paid family and medical leave program that do not increase the maximum premium rate cap or contribution rates.

This bill establishes two mechanisms to maintain solvency for Washington's paid family and medical leave program without increasing the maximum premium rate cap or contribution rates. If the calculated premium rate exceeds 1.2%, the commissioner must reduce weekly benefits (including the maximum) to ensure the rate stays under that threshold. Additionally, the commissioner may further reduce benefits if actuarial analysis shows the fund's balance may fall below a sustainable level. These adjustments directly affect employees receiving benefits by potentially lowering their weekly payment amounts if solvency measures are triggered. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill maintains solvency of paid family medical leave program without increasing costs, protecting existing healthcare benefit access and preventing benefit reductions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill maintains paid family leave solvency without raising costs, preventing benefit reductions to protect existing worker benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Paid Leave

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2658: Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act.

HB 2658 requires health insurance carriers in Washington to annually report detailed data on mental health and substance use coverage, including in-network provider availability, reimbursement rates, out-of-network utilization, and service access by type (youth/adult, in-person/telehealth). This affects all health insurers operating in the state, mandating them to submit standardized data to the state commissioner by July 1st each year. The commissioner must then publish all raw data and create an interactive public dashboard showing comparisons across insurers, focusing on mental health, substance use, and medical/surgical services. The goal is to increase transparency about coverage gaps, as documented by studies showing Washington residents face significantly greater barriers accessing behavioral health care than medical care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer transparency on mental health coverage data, improving access and accountability for patients through standardized reporting requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 2600: Updating the supported living cost report.

HB 2600 requires Washington's Department of Social and Health Services to update the supported living cost report template by July 2026 to align with federal law and address workforce shortages. The updated report must include detailed data on staff counts, wages, benefits (like health insurance and paid time off), and revenue breakdowns by client tier. A new work group - comprising providers, disability advocates, and union representatives - will develop recommendations to improve compensation for direct support professionals, with a final report due to the legislature by December 2026. The bill expires September 1, 2028, and directly affects supported living providers who must submit the new report format.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates inclusion of health insurance benefits in staff compensation data and addresses workforce shortages through improved pay recommendations, strengthening healthcare service delivery.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingUpdates supported living cost report to address workforce shortages via improved compensation data, sustaining housing services for vulnerable populations.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates inclusion of wages/benefits data and establishes union-inclusive work group to develop compensation improvements, directly advancing worker compensation standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Collective Bargaining

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