Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5951: Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools.

SB 5951 allows public and private schools in Washington to maintain a stock supply of albuterol (a medication for breathing difficulties) starting in the 2027-28 school year, requiring a health professional's prescription and a standing order. School nurses or trained staff can administer it during school activities, including field trips, following existing asthma management protocols - without changing how schools handle students who already have personal albuterol prescriptions. The bill includes liability protections for schools and staff who follow the established procedures. It applies to all schools, including charter and tribal schools, and aligns with current state policies for managing student respiratory symptoms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to emergency asthma medication in schools, improving patient access to critical healthcare services without restricting existing protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2175: Exempting providers of free durable medical equipment from retail sales and use tax for certain items.

HB 2175 exempts nonprofit organizations that provide free durable medical equipment to patients from Washington's retail sales and use taxes on items necessary for their operations. These providers must be federally tax-exempt under 501(c), not charge patients, and be licensed in Washington. The exemption expires January 1, 2037, and includes a review clause to potentially extend it if the policy increases access to medical equipment for Washington residents.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts nonprofits from sales tax on medical equipment, providing tax relief for organizations serving vulnerable populations and aligning with fiscal responsibility for public health access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts nonprofits from taxes on medical equipment, reducing costs to improve patient access to durable medical devices.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 5845: Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers.

SB 5845 requires health insurance carriers in Washington to pay or deny complete claims from healthcare providers within 30 days of receiving them. If a claim is incomplete, carriers must send a written notice within 14 days specifying missing information or denial reasons. Carriers that miss deadlines must pay interest (1% for first 60 days, 1.5% thereafter) on unpaid claims, which cannot be applied to patient deductibles. The law applies to all health plans filed or renewed after January 1, 2027, and includes penalties for claims unresolved over 90 days. It directly affects insurance companies and healthcare providers by clarifying payment timelines and adding financial consequences for delays.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires timely insurance payments to providers with penalties for delays, protecting provider cash flow and preventing interest from affecting patient deductibles, improving healthcare system efficiency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5867: Partnering with a mobile pregnancy application to improve maternal and infant health.

SB 5867 requires Washington’s state health authority to develop a mobile pregnancy application through a competitive bidding process, targeting Medicaid-eligible pregnant and postpartum women. The app must provide multilingual educational resources, connect users to state health programs (like perinatal substance use services), and be available on Android and iOS. Key requirements include collecting anonymized usage data (e.g., daily users, engagement with Washington-specific resources) and ensuring clinical standards for content. The bill aims to improve awareness of maternal health programs but does not change Medicaid eligibility or funding. The state must issue a request for proposals within 180 days of the bill’s effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mobile app to connect Medicaid-eligible mothers to maternal health services, improving access to care and program resources per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires anonymized data collection for maternal health app, aligning with data privacy protections and digital health access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Medicaid Women's Health

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 5847: Concerning access to medical care in workers' compensation.

This bill establishes a state-created network of healthcare providers for workers' compensation cases in Washington. It requires the Department of Labor to set minimum standards for providers (like malpractice insurance and no disciplinary actions) to join the network, and creates a higher-quality "second tier" for providers using occupational health best practices. Injured workers gain the right to choose their initial provider (except in emergencies), and employers cannot steer them toward specific clinics; if no network provider is within 15 miles, workers can access non-network care with guaranteed payment under the department’s fee schedule. The bill directly affects injured workers, employers (including self-insurers), and healthcare providers seeking to treat workers’ compensation cases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates provider network with quality standards, enables worker choice of initial provider, prevents employer steering - improves access and patient rights in workers' compensation healthcare.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides injured workers choice of initial provider, prevents employer steering, and sets quality standards for medical care in workers' comp - directly advancing worker access to care and rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 5944: Concerning language access providers' collective bargaining.

SB 5944 establishes a collective bargaining framework for language access providers who work with specific state agencies, including those providing interpreter services for Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and Department of Labor and Industries appointments. The bill designates the governor as the public employer solely for bargaining purposes, creating three statewide bargaining units based on service type (e.g., Medicaid appointments, injured workers, or general state agency support). It limits bargaining to economic issues like pay rates, training, grievance procedures, and health benefits - excluding retirement benefits - and requires the governor to submit budget requests for approved agreements, subject to legislative approval. Providers remain non-employees for all purposes outside bargaining, and the law explicitly preserves federal compliance obligations and legislative authority over service delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes collective bargaining for language access providers serving healthcare agencies (e.g., Medicaid appointments), improving patient access to health services through interpreter support.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes collective bargaining framework for language access providers, directly supporting workers' right to organize under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Collective Bargaining

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5915: Concerning the health technology assessment program.

SB 5915 amends Washington State's health technology assessment program to establish clearer processes for reviewing medical technologies. It requires the committee to prioritize technologies based on Medicare recommendations, safety concerns, high costs, or significant usage variations, and mandates systematic evidence-based assessments from designated federal centers. The bill sets timelines for reviews (180 days for initial assessments) and requires transparency through public comment periods and written explanations for denied requests. It directly affects state health programs (like Medicaid) and providers by determining which medical technologies qualify as covered benefits based on safety, effectiveness, and cost evidence.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes evidence-based assessments for medical tech, improving review processes to prioritize safety/cost-effectiveness, strengthening healthcare system efficiency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Telehealth

in committee · Washington · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 2100: Enacting an excise tax on large operating companies on the amount of payroll expenses above the minimum wage threshold of the additional medicare tax to fund services to benefit Washingtonians and establishing the Well Washington fund account.

HB 2100 imposes a tax on large Washington companies for payroll expenses exceeding $125,000 per employee (mirroring the federal Medicare surtax threshold), effective July 2026. The tax revenue will fund the "Well Washington Fund," with 51% of annual revenues dedicated to supporting health care (including Medicaid), higher education, food assistance (SNAP), and energy/housing programs. The bill creates an oversight board of 25 legislative members to manage fund allocations, ensuring resources target services most impacted by federal budget cuts. This policy directly affects large operating companies with significant payroll, aiming to offset projected losses in state services from federal legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes excise tax on large companies to fund health care, education, and social programs, directly advancing public service funding per topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly allocates 51% of tax revenue to 'energy/housing programs' under the Well Washington Fund, directly funding energy initiatives.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill dedicates 51% of Well Washington Fund revenues to healthcare (including Medicaid), directly funding health services and programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates 51% of Well Washington Fund revenues to 'energy/housing programs', explicitly funding housing initiatives as part of its revenue allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Medicaid Medicare

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 5823: Concerning patient advocates.

This bill requires most Washington hospitals to employ a full-time, on-site patient advocate starting January 1, 2027, to help patients navigate healthcare systems. It directly affects licensed hospitals, with exemptions for certain rural hospitals (critical access or sole community hospitals), Skagit County island hospitals, and tribal hospitals meeting specific criteria. Exempt hospitals must instead provide verified access to external advocacy services (like phone/video support) and ensure patients know how to connect with them. The advocate’s role includes assisting with medical records, scheduling, care coordination, and communication with providers or insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to employ patient advocates for system navigation, directly improving patient access and rights per healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2122: Requiring hospitals to offer immunizations for influenza in certain cases.

HB 2122 requires Washington hospitals to offer annual flu vaccinations to two specific patient groups: adults 65 or older, and any patient (regardless of age) with a chronic health condition. This applies each year from October 1 to March 1, beginning July 1, 2027, unless the vaccine is unavailable at the hospital or the immunization is medically unsafe for the patient. Hospitals are exempt during declared state emergencies or disasters, and critical access hospitals certified under federal law are also excluded. The law focuses on expanding access to flu shots for high-risk patients during peak flu season through a straightforward hospital offering requirement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates flu vaccinations for high-risk groups (65+ and chronic conditions), improving preventive care access and public health outcomes without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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