Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2331: Preventing reductions in access to pediatric primary care and behavioral health services.

HB 2331 requires Washington's Medicaid program to cover specific pediatric and behavioral health screenings and assessments, including autism and developmental delay screenings for children, annual depression screenings for youth aged 12-18, maternal depression screenings for mothers of infants under six months, and mental health assessments for children under five, all subject to available funding. The bill also explicitly prohibits cuts to life-sustaining services like prescription medications, oxygen, and respiratory supplies. This directly affects children, adolescents, and families enrolled in Medicaid by ensuring continued access to these critical health services. The law amends existing Medicaid coverage rules to prevent reductions in pediatric care access, focusing on evidence-based screening requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for pediatric/behavioral screenings and prohibits cuts to life-sustaining services, directly expanding access and protecting healthcare access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Mental Health

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 6232: Creating the Washington state board of licensed mental health counselors.

SB 6232 creates a new Washington State Board of Licensed Mental Health Counselors to provide specialized oversight of the profession. The board, composed of seven licensed counselors and two public members, will develop licensing rules, set practice standards, and handle disciplinary actions. This directly affects mental health counselors by establishing their dedicated regulatory body and enhances public protection through targeted oversight of mental health services. The bill updates licensing requirements to align with the profession's growth and Washington's upcoming counseling compact participation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated board for mental health counselor oversight, setting standards and enhancing public protection in mental health services, directly supporting mental health care regulation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2261: Ensuring transparency in credentials and communications between patients and health care professionals.

HB 2261 requires health care professionals who interact directly with patients to clearly display their full credentials (including degree titles like "MD" or "DO") on visible identification badges during all patient encounters. It also mandates that any advertisement for health care services must specify the provider's exact credential type. The bill aims to prevent patient confusion about provider qualifications, particularly regarding titles like "doctor" that might imply a medical degree without clarification. This applies to all licensed health care providers in direct patient care settings but excludes those in non-patient care roles. The law seeks to improve transparency and trust by ensuring patients understand their care team's qualifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates clear credential display to prevent patient confusion and protect patient rights, directly advancing transparency in healthcare services and provider qualifications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2283: Establishing a medical loss ratio of at least 90 percent for health plans.

This bill requires health insurance carriers in Washington to spend at least 90% of premium revenue on medical care (not administrative costs) for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2028. It directly affects health insurance companies operating in the state, mandating they adjust their spending to meet this ratio. Carriers must also submit detailed reports to the state commissioner about how they calculate this ratio, including payments to affiliated providers and incentive programs. The requirement aligns with federal standards and does not change existing rate review processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 90% of premiums spent on medical care, reducing administrative waste and increasing patient benefits through insurer accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 6198: Concerning accounts.

SB 6198 repeals eight existing state accounts (including those for youth housing, hospital grants, and climate resiliency) and creates a new "abandoned recreational vehicle disposal account" to manage funds for removing abandoned RVs. The new account receives fees from RV disposal, general fund transfers, and other gifts, with reimbursements limited to 100% of eligible costs up to $10,000 per vehicle for registered tow truck operators and licensed dismantlers. Residual funds from repealed accounts are transferred to the general fund by July 1, 2026. This bill directly affects state agencies managing RV removal costs and the businesses reimbursed for these services.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepeals accounts funding youth housing, hospital grants, and climate resiliency, defunding essential programs under Budget & Taxes.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals climate resiliency account, defunding environmental protection initiative directly mentioned in summary.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals hospital grants account, defunding healthcare program funding directly mentioned in summary.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRepeals youth housing and climate resiliency accounts, diverting funds from housing programs to RV disposal fund without housing-related benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 6105: Raising the exemption from garnishment of earnings for judgments arising from medical debt.

Washington State's SB 6105 increases the exemption from wage garnishment for medical debt judgments. It raises the threshold to 60 times the state's minimum hourly wage or 80% of a person's take-home pay (whichever is greater), compared to 35 times the wage for other consumer debts. This change directly affects individuals facing wage garnishment specifically for unpaid medical bills. The bill amends Washington's garnishment laws (RCW 6.27.150, 6.27.105, and 6.27.140) to provide stronger protection for medical debt cases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents wage garnishment for medical debt, protecting patients from financial penalties and improving access to healthcare services by reducing barriers to care.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases wage garnishment exemption for medical debt, protecting workers' take-home pay from excessive seizure per RCW amendments, directly strengthening financial security for laborers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2300: Assessing employers for their workers' health care costs paid by the state.

HB 2300 requires large Washington employers (with 500+ total workers in the state during a quarter) to reimburse the state for health care costs paid through public programs like Apple Health for their workers. Employers must pay an assessment based on the state's per-person cost for each worker enrolled in medical assistance programs who is under 65 years old. This applies to most employers, but excludes those already providing health coverage to all workers or seasonal businesses meeting specific criteria. The program aims to preserve public health funding by shifting costs to employers whose workers rely on state-funded care, with payments due quarterly starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes employer assessment to reimburse state for health costs, generating new revenue for state budget, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding public programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequiring employers to reimburse state for public healthcare costs funds Apple Health programs, supporting public health funding through employer accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 2437: Establishing fee authority for accreditation services provided to opioid treatment programs by the department of health.

HB 2437 allows Washington's Department of Health to establish fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs, which must cover the department's costs for this service. The bill directs the department to set initial and renewal fees after gaining federal approval to accredit such programs under federal rules (42 C.F.R. Part 8). These fees will be used to offset expenses, with the department permitted to draw from opioid abatement settlement funds to cover costs. The bill directly affects opioid treatment programs seeking federal accreditation and the department managing the process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables fee collection for opioid treatment program accreditation, supporting quality oversight in public health services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2385: Concerning the medicaid access program.

HB 2385 creates a Medicaid Access Program requiring Washington State to increase reimbursement rates for specific medical services (like anesthesia, surgery, behavioral health, and maternal care) that are currently paid at or below Medicare rates. These rates must be raised uniformly to match Medicare rates from the prior year, using funds collected in a dedicated account, and adjusted annually using the Medicare Economic Index after federal approval is secured. The bill mandates a study starting in 2032 to evaluate if these rate increases improve Medicaid access, tracking metrics like provider participation and patient access surveys. It also sets a 2032 deadline for federal approval, after which the program expires if approval isn't granted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates increased state funding for Medicaid services by requiring uniform reimbursement rate hikes to Medicare levels using dedicated funds.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare levels for key services (anesthesia, surgery, behavioral health, maternal care), improving provider access and patient care through enhanced funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Mental Health

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 6103: Making payments for services provided by a rural emergency hospital subject to appropriation.

This bill changes how Washington state funds rural emergency hospitals. It requires that payments for services provided by rural emergency hospitals (designated by federal Medicare/Medicaid) must be approved each year through the state budget, rather than being automatically funded. This affects hospitals meeting federal rural emergency hospital criteria, including those that previously received automatic payments. The change applies to all medical assistance program services provided by these hospitals, regardless of patient enrollment in managed care. The bill does not alter existing payment rates but shifts the funding mechanism to annual appropriations.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRequires annual budget approval for rural hospital payments instead of automatic funding, making funding contingent on annual appropriations and reducing guaranteed support.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill requires annual budget approval for rural hospital payments instead of automatic funding, creating potential for defunding and restricting consistent healthcare financing for designated facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Hospitals Medicaid Medicare