2024 Health Care Legislation

Priority Bills

Bills in green are supported. Bills in red are opposed by the League. Bills in black the League is watching.

HB 1954 Harmonizing language relating to reproductive health care services and gender affirming care. Sponsored by Representatives Riccelli, Bateman, and Ramel this bill seeks to protect providers from disciplinary action as long as they are acting within the law and standards in Washington. This bill is rapidly moving. It has PASSED.

HB 1969/SB 5811 Expanding the definition of family member for individual providers. Related to in-home health care providers (relatives). Sponsored by Representative Alvarado this bill broadens the definition to include family members providing care who have not been able to be reimbursed previously but provides the same guidelines. It has PASSED.

HB 1979 Reducing the cost of inhalers and epinephrine autoinjectors. Sponsored by Paul and others this bill amends RCW 48.43.780. designates the equivalent rules for these medications as have been made for emergency insulin the co-pay can be applied to the insured’s deductible. This bill requires health plans, including health plans offered to public and school employees, to cap the total out of pocket cost for a 30-day supply of asthma inhalers and a two-pack of epinephrine autoinjectors at $35. It has PASSED.

SB 5821 Establishing a uniform standard for creating an established relationship for the purposes of coverage of audio-only telemedicine services. Sponsored by Representative Harris this bill Establishes a uniform standard for creating an established relationship for the purposes of coverage of audio only telemedicine services by expanding the time in which a health care provider has seen the patient and removing the expiration of provisions allowing for the use of real-time interactive appointments using both audio and video technology. It has PASSED.

HB 1889 Allowing persons to receive professional licenses and certifications regardless of immigration or citizenship status.  Sponsored by Representative Walen this bill provides eligibility for certain professional and commercial licenses, certifications, permits, and registrations for various professions for persons not lawfully present in the United States. It has PASSED.

SB 5580 An Act relating to Improving maternal health outcomes. This bill sponsored by Senator Muzzall and ten others raises the federal poverty index to 210 percent for pregnant and postpartum women by November 1, 2024. It as well addresses a key issue in postpartum care for women and their newborns by directing the healthcare authority to create a post-delivery post-partum and transitional program for those women suffering from substance use disorder at the time of delivery by extending the post-partum stay. It additionally requires the HCA to update the current Maternal Support Service to address equity, and to improve birth and perinatal outcomes by January 1, 2025. It has PASSED.

SB 5986 Protecting consumers from out-of-network health care service charges. This bill sponsored by Senator Cleveland and Muzzall and others seeks to prevent consumers being charged out-of-network fees by ambulance companies for emergency and non-emergency treatment and transportation (including air ambulance services) as well as behavioral health emergency and non-emergency transport. Insurance carriers must include in-network information to members. It has PASSED.