Ensuring Social Justice Ensure affordable and accessible health care for all. Issue Chair: Kim Abbey, kabbey@lwvwa.org, (206) 387-6134 |
Right Now in Health Care, Behavioral Health, and Reproductive Rights(Interested in the 2020 Session Recap? Click Here) General News This WeekPublic Hearings before the House Health and Wellness Committee and the Senate Health and Long-term Care Committee began hearing public testimony on health care, behavioral health, and reproductive rights using virtual methods. This allows testimony to be heard from citizens and League members with no need to visit Olympia. Knowing your own three legislators and what committees they sit on is important. Be engaged, learn the steps, and advocate. Bills Needing Action This WeekSB 5142 Establishing the profession of dental therapist. Sponsor: Sen. Frockt Take action this week: Contact Sen. Cleveland, Chair of Senate Health and LTC Committee to request that she schedule a Public Hearing for this Dental Therapist bill. If your own senator sits on the committee, it will be very helpful to contact them. SB 5068 Improving maternal health outcomes by extending coverage during the postpartum period. Sponsor: Sen. Randall Take action this week: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care on Wednesday, Jan 20 at 8:00 AM. Please register to make written or oral testimony. HB 1047 Requiring coverage for hearing instruments for children and adolescents. Sponsor: Rep. Emily Wicks. Take action this week: Contact Rep. Cody, Chair of the House Health and Wellness Committee, and request that she schedule this bill for a Public Hearing. SB 5204 Creating the Whole Washington Health Trust. Sponsor: Sen. Hasagawa and six co-sponsors. Take action this week: Write to Sen. Cleveland to request that she schedules this bill for a Public Hearing. Other Bills We SupportClick to jump to sub-section: Health Care | Behavioral Health | Reproductive Rights Health CareSB 5140 Protecting pregnancy and miscarriage-related patient care. Sponsor: Sen. Patty Kurderer STATUS UPDATE: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 8:00 AM HB 1052 Concerning group insurance contract performance standards. Sponsor: Rep. Jessica Bateman. STATUS UPDATE: Public Hearing was on Thursday, Jan. 13 and Exec. Comm. on Jan. 14. HB 1141 Increasing access to the death with dignity act. STATUS UPDATE: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Monday, Jan. 18 at 1:30 PM. Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Jan. 20 at 8:00 AM. SB 5020 Assessing a penalty on unsupported prescription drug price increases. Sponsor: Sen. Keiser. STATUS UPDATE: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care Jan 22 at 8:00 AM. SB 5088 Addressing a shortage of primary care services by increasing the scope of practice of naturopathic physicians. STATUS UPDATE: Not scheduled for a public hearing as of Jan. 15. SB 5052 Concerning the creation of health equity zones. Sponsor: Sen. Keiser. STATUS UPDATE: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care on Monday, Jan. 18 at 1:30 PM. Behavioral HealthHB 1182 Enhancing and expanding behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis response services. Sponsor: Rep. Orwell. STATUS UPDATE: Contact Rep. Cody to request a Public Hearing. HB 1063 Allowing additional renewals for behavioral health professional trainee credentials. Sponsor: Rep. Paul Harris. STATUS UPDATE: Public Hearing was on January 14, 2021. HB 1074 Concerning overdose and suicide fatality reviews. Sponsor: Rep. Strom Peterson. STATUS UPDATE: Public Hearing: January 14, 2021. Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Jan 20 at 8:00 AM. SB 5074 Establishing safe station pilot programs. STATUS UPDATE: Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 10:30 AM. Reproductive RightsHB 1009 Concerning student health plans. Sponsor: Rep. My-Linh Thai. STATUS UPDATE: Public Hearing was on Thursday, Jan. 13 and Exec. Comm. on Jan. 14.
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