Healthcare (Rural Communities)

HB 2623 would create a state grant program starting January 1, 2027, to support rural emergency medical transport providers. It provides supplemental payments to cover the gap between what Washington's medical assistance programs pay for ambulance rides and the Medicare rate, specifically for services to people enrolled in medical assistance who live in frontier counties. The program targets ground ambulance providers serving these areas and requires them to meet state-set eligibility criteria. Funding depends on annual appropriations, and payments prioritize claims based on submission order if funds are limited. This aims to improve access to emergency transport in underserved rural communities.

SB 5335 establishes a state-funded rural nursing education program to address nurse shortages in Washington's underserved rural communities. The program provides distance learning and support services - including childcare, transportation assistance, and internet access - to nursing students who commit to working in rural areas after graduation. It requires collaboration between rural hospitals, academic institutions, and community partners to create tailored training models and address workforce barriers like high urban salaries and pandemic-related burnout. The bill targets Washington’s 39 critical access hospitals and aims to build a sustainable pipeline of local nurses for rural health facilities.