HB 2254 proposes changes to how mental health program costs are funded in Washington State. It requires health carriers, self-funded health plans, and employers to pay a proportional share of administrative costs for partnership access lines and psychiatric consultation services based on their share of insured residents served by these programs. The bill allows third-party administrators' reasonable costs to be included in the assessment, but excludes the Health Care Authority's own administrative expenses. This would shift some funding responsibility from state budgets to covered health entities while maintaining state funding for programs under Chapter 74.09 RCW.
HB 2329 amends Washington state law to clarify that licensed midwives may delegate certain midwifery tasks to medical assistants and coordinate with international board-certified lactation consultants. The bill specifically updates statutes to allow midwives to authorize medical assistants to perform tasks within the assistants' training and scope of practice, while maintaining required supervision standards. It also explicitly confirms that midwives may work with lactation consultants without restrictions. This directly affects midwives, medical assistants, and lactation consultants by expanding midwives' ability to delegate routine care tasks under supervision. The policy change streamlines midwifery practice without altering core supervision requirements.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
