Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2492: Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training.

HB 2492 requires state-registered plumbing apprenticeships in Washington to include four hours of approved behavioral health and wellness training as part of their continuing education requirements. This applies directly to apprentices in the plumbing construction trade who need to maintain their certification. The training must cover topics like destigmatizing mental health, recognizing distress, suicide prevention, substance use awareness, and connecting to resources. It modifies existing certification rules (RCW 18.106.070) to allow these hours to count toward the required 24 hours of annual continuing education. The bill does not create new licensing standards but integrates mental health support into existing apprenticeship training.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 4 hours of behavioral health training covering mental health destigmatization, suicide prevention, and resource access for apprentices, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2314: Concerning dental care services at residential habilitation centers.

HB 2314 creates a pilot program allowing people with developmental disabilities who live in community settings to access dental care at residential habilitation centers. To qualify, individuals must have high medical/behavioral needs requiring anesthesia or face unavailability of community dental care. The pilot permits short-term 24-hour admissions at these centers, uses Medicaid billing, and requires federal funds to go to the state general fund. The program expires July 1, 2028, with a required legislative report detailing outcomes, including participation numbers and challenges. It directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities who face barriers to routine dental care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates pilot program expanding dental care access for developmental disability patients via Medicaid billing, directly improving healthcare access for a vulnerable population with high needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 6173: Creating an apple health employer assessment.

This bill creates a new assessment on employers with 100 or more employees that have at least one worker enrolled in Apple Health (Washington's Medicaid program) for 80+ hours per month. The assessment amount is calculated by multiplying the total "member months" (each month an employee works and is enrolled in Apple Health) by a set Medicaid expansion rate. Employers must pay the assessment quarterly to the Employment Security Department, with funds deposited into the state health care affordability account. This account can only be used for premium and cost-sharing assistance for low-income individuals, as specified by law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates employer assessment to fund Apple Health, directing revenue to state health care affordability program per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates employer assessment to fund Apple Health affordability, directly increasing healthcare program revenue through mandatory employer contributions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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signed · Washington · House Mar 14, 2026

HB 2441: Concerning medical insurance premium reimbursements for surviving spouses of line of duty deaths.

HB 2441 requires Washington state to reimburse surviving spouses or domestic partners for medical insurance premiums after a public safety officer or first responder dies "in the course of employment" (as defined by the Department of Labor & Industries). The bill covers premiums for state health plans, Medicare Part A/B, and COBRA insurance, starting from the date of death until the line-of-duty status is confirmed. Survivors must maintain Medicare Part A and B enrollment to qualify for reimbursement, and the reimbursement amount cannot exceed what would be paid under COBRA. This applies only to deaths classified as line-of-duty, not all deaths.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReimburses premiums for survivors' health coverage, ensuring continuity of care and preventing loss of access after line-of-duty deaths.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReimburses surviving spouses for medical premiums after line-of-duty deaths, expanding post-employment benefits for public safety workers' families.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5990: Expanding the qualifications of those who may serve as a local health officer in rural counties.

SB 5990 expands who can serve as an acting local health officer in rural Washington counties (population under 100,000) by allowing boards to appoint licensed advanced practice nurses (under RCW 18.79) or physician assistants (under RCW 18.71A) in place of a regular health officer when they are absent or unable to serve. This change directly affects rural counties struggling to fill health officer roles, as it broadens the pool of qualified individuals eligible for temporary appointments. The bill amends existing law to grant these appointed acting officers the same duties, powers, and authority as permanently appointed health officers. The provision expires June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands qualified personnel for rural health officer roles, improving access to public health services in underserved areas by broadening eligible appointees.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 16, 2026

HB 2522: Advancing oral health equity and protecting access to preventive dental care.

HB 2522 requires dental insurance plans to cover preventive services like fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral cancer screenings without age limits or frequency restrictions. It applies directly to dental-only insurance carriers, ensuring patients - especially vulnerable populations - receive essential care without arbitrary coverage barriers. The bill mandates that insurers pay for related services (e.g., oral hygiene instruction) when provided alongside preventive care. This aims to improve early intervention access and align with recognized dental standards, addressing gaps created by federal policy discussions and private sector coverage limitations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates dental insurance coverage for preventive services without age/frequency limits, expands access for vulnerable populations, and protects essential oral health care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5967: Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions.

SB 5967 requires most health plans in Washington to cover specific preventive services without cost-sharing, including evidence-based care rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and CDC-recommended immunizations. It clarifies that coverage must follow federal guidelines as of June 30, 2025, and updates requirements for plans issued after April 1, 2026. The bill also gives Washington’s Department of Health authority to issue immunization guidance without needing formal rulemaking. This directly affects health insurance plans and Washington residents accessing preventive care like screenings, vaccinations, and wellness visits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no cost-sharing for preventive services (A/B USPSTF/CDC) in health plans, expanding access to evidence-based care per federal guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 6166: Ensuring transparency in credentials and communications between patients and health care professionals.

SB 6166 requires health care professionals providing direct patient care to visibly display their full credentials (including degree titles) on identification badges during all patient interactions. It also mandates that any advertising naming a provider must specify their health care credential. The bill aims to reduce patient confusion about provider qualifications, particularly regarding titles like "doctor" that may imply a medical degree. These requirements apply to license holders in clinical settings but not to those without direct patient contact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires visible credential display to prevent patient confusion about provider qualifications, protecting patient rights and safety in healthcare interactions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6102: Aligning the quality assurance fee for the ambulance transport fund with federal regulations.

SB 6102 adjusts how ambulance transport providers in Washington pay a quality assurance fee to align with federal requirements. It changes the fee calculation method to annually reflect projected revenue and emergency transport volumes, ensuring the fee amount matches federal funding rules. Ambulance providers directly pay this quarterly fee based on their emergency transports, and the collected funds supplement (not replace) Medicaid payments for emergency ambulance services. The bill specifies that fees must stay within 1% of projected amounts, with adjustments if discrepancies exceed this threshold. This ensures state ambulance funding remains compliant with federal regulations for Medicaid reimbursement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures ambulance fees supplement Medicaid payments for emergency services, maintaining funding alignment with federal requirements without replacing Medicaid coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2302: Expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists.

HB 2302 would allow Washington pharmacists to prescribe certain medications directly for chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, behavioral health, and addiction - without requiring special agreements with physicians. Currently, pharmacists must maintain complex collaborative agreements, which the bill identifies as an unnecessary administrative burden. The change leverages pharmacists’ existing training (including 1,740 hours of patient care) to improve access to care, especially in rural and underserved communities. It amends state law to expand pharmacists’ scope of practice to fully utilize their expertise in medication management. The bill focuses on concrete policy change, not outcomes or advocacy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' prescribing authority for chronic conditions (diabetes, addiction), removing administrative barriers to improve patient access to care without physician agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

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