Healthcare (Hospitals)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1545: Improving cardiac and stroke outcomes.

HB 1545 creates a statewide cardiac and stroke care system in Washington, requiring hospitals and emergency medical services (EMS) providers to submit data on patient care starting in 2027. The Department of Health will establish a registry to collect this data, analyze performance, and develop quality improvement plans focused on reducing death and disability from heart attacks and strokes. The bill mandates annual reports on system progress, with a 2028 report specifically evaluating whether on-site hospital inspections are needed. It also allocates funds to support rural hospitals in meeting data requirements and includes public education on stroke/heart attack symptoms and 911 use.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates statewide cardiac/stroke care system requiring data collection and quality improvement plans to reduce death/disability, directly advancing healthcare quality outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5493: Concerning hospital price transparency.

SB 5493, titled "Concerning hospital price transparency," mandates that hospitals in Washington State increase their transparency regarding service costs. By July 1, 2027, hospitals must publish all required data and comply with federal price transparency rules (45 C.F.R. Part 180, subparts A and B, as of January 1, 2025). Starting July 1, 2027, hospitals will also be required to annually submit machine-readable files of all standard charges and consumer-friendly lists of shoppable services to the state department. This bill directly affects hospitals by requiring them to disclose pricing information, aiming to make healthcare costs more accessible to the public.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hospital price transparency to improve patient access to cost information, aligning with healthcare policy goals of enhancing consumer choice and reducing hidden costs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1560: Funding health care access by imposing an excise tax on the annual compensation paid to certain highly compensated hospital employees.

HB 1560 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the five highest-paid hospital employees without direct patient care, plus the hospital's lead administrator if not included. It directly affects nonprofit hospitals in Washington that pay certain executives excessive compensation, as defined by the bill. The tax revenue will fund programs to improve healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations and reproductive care. The tax applies to compensation reported under state health reporting rules, beginning in 2027 for the 2026 tax year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 7.5% tax on high hospital execs to fund healthcare access programs, directly increasing public funding for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTax revenue funds healthcare access programs for vulnerable populations and reproductive care, directly advancing healthcare access through new funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Hospitals

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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

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5229: Facilitating civil commitment for treatment for a person requiring revival by opioid overdose reversal medication.

This bill amends Washington state law to expand the criteria for involuntary treatment (civil commitment) for people with substance use disorders. Specifically, it adds to the definition of "gravely disabled" that a person required opioid overdose reversal medication within two weeks and is not receiving appropriate treatment. This change would allow courts to order inpatient care for individuals who've recently survived opioid overdoses but aren't accessing treatment services. The bill focuses on facilitating access to care for this specific group, not on new penalties or programs. (Note: The bill is currently in committee and not yet law.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to treatment for opioid overdose survivors via court-ordered inpatient care, improving healthcare access for substance use disorders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Substance Abuse

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signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5568: Updating and modernizing the Washington state health plan.

This bill updates and modernizes the Washington state health plan by revising the duties of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) regarding health planning. It designates OFM as the coordinating body for strategic health planning and expands its access to various health care data sources, such as the all-payer claims database, to inform its efforts. OFM is now required to develop a statewide health resources strategy, in coordination with stakeholders, to establish policies and goals for health care facility and service availability, quality, and cost by geographic region. The bill also updates definitions for various health facilities, including changing "psychiatric hospitals" to "behavioral health hospitals."

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modernizes health planning by designating OFM as coordinator, expands data access for strategic planning, and mandates statewide health resources strategy development to strengthen system coordination and resource allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Mental Health

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1881: Concerning material changes to the operations and governance structure of participants in the health care marketplace.

HB 1881 requires health care entities to notify Washington’s attorney general and health care authority about major mergers, acquisitions, or contracting affiliations that could impact competition or access to care. It mandates review of these transactions to ensure they maintain or improve access to emergency, primary, reproductive, end-of-life, and gender-affirming care - specifically addressing concerns that past deals reduced access to these services. The bill supplements federal antitrust laws by covering transactions below federal reporting thresholds and giving state agencies tools to investigate potential anticompetitive harm. It directly affects health care providers, insurers, and hospital systems entering significant ownership changes. The law aims to prevent price hikes and limited provider choices, particularly in rural areas, while protecting access to medically necessary care for vulnerable communities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates review of healthcare mergers to maintain access to reproductive, gender-affirming, and emergency care, preventing reduced access from past deals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1466: Increasing the biennial funds contribution in lieu of state funds from the hospital safety net program.

HB 1466 increases the biennial funding amount used to replace state general fund payments for Medicaid hospital services, raising it from $452 million to $527 million for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, with a subsequent rise to $552 million per biennium starting in 2027. This funding directly affects hospitals and managed care organizations receiving Medicaid payments, as it replaces state general fund contributions while maintaining payment levels at 2022 rates (adjusted for enrollment). The bill specifies that $160 million annually must fund postacute hospital transitions and allocates $2 million for psychiatry residency programs and $4.1 million for family medicine residency slots at the University of Washington. It also ensures funds are used exclusively for Medicaid hospital services, administrative costs, and federal compliance, with no new programs created.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases Medicaid hospital funding from $452M to $527M (2025-2027) and $552M post-2027, boosting state spending on public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid hospital funding from $452M to $552M biennially, maintaining payment levels for hospitals and managed care organizations serving Medicaid patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals Medicaid Primary Care

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1868: Expanding access to athletic trainers in schools.

HB 1868 creates a state matching grant program to help critical access hospitals hire licensed athletic trainers who provide free services to students in local school districts. Hospitals can receive up to $60,000 in state funds, matching their own contributions, to cover trainer salaries, medical supplies, equipment, and program promotion. To qualify, hospitals must demonstrate school district need, detail how funds will be used, and prove they can match the state grant amount. The program requires hospitals to wait 12 months before reapplying and mandates a 2026 legislative report on implementation. This directly affects critical access hospitals and the school districts they serve.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state matching grant program allocating $60k per hospital for athletic trainers, directly funding public health services through state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates state matching grants to fund athletic trainers in schools, expanding health access for students and supporting school wellness programs through direct funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds athletic trainers in schools, expanding access to healthcare services for students via state grants to cover salaries and medical supplies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Hospitals

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1123: Ensuring access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services.

This bill establishes new reimbursement rules for health insurers covering Washington public employees' health plans. Starting in 2027, insurers must pay at least 150% of Medicare rates for primary care and behavioral health services, while capping payments at 200% of Medicare for most hospital services (350% for children's specialty hospitals). Rural hospitals and critical access facilities must receive minimum payments of 101% of Medicare costs. These requirements specifically apply to insurers serving public employees, not general health coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 150% Medicare reimbursement for primary/behavioral health services and minimum payments for rural hospitals, directly improving provider access and patient coverage in healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Primary Care Telehealth

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