2020 Legislative Session Wrap Up

(Interested in the 2019 Session Recap? Click Here)

The 2020 Legislative session is completed. Here is a summary of 5 Health related bills that were supported by the Health Care is a Human Right coalition that have successfully passed into law.

SB 6087 what it means: Health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2021 must cap out of pocket charges at $100 for 30 day supply of insulin.

HB 2662 Establishes the ‘Total Cost of Insulin Workgroup’.

HB 1608 Protecting Patient Care, what it means: Prohibits a health care entity from limiting a health care provider's provision of accurate and comprehensive information to patients about the patient's health status and treatment options. Requires the Department of Health (DOH) to create and make available online materials to inform health care providers and staff of their authority to provide information under this act. Requires the DOH to create materials for providers and patient's about the Death with Dignity Act. Also see HB 2419 below.

HB 2457 Establish the health care cost transparency board, what it means: the 14 member Board must analyze the impacts of various cost drivers to health care and incorporate the analysis into its annual calculations. The cost drivers may include labor, capital costs, supply costs, uncompensated care, administrative and compliance costs, taxes, capacity, funding and access to certain care and housing, and regional differences in input prices. Watch Rep. Cody, the prime sponsor, give testimony to the Senate Health and Long term Care Committee on Feb. 24, 2020, starting at about 8 minutes on the TVW channel.

Bills the League Supported That Have Been Signed Into Law

• HB 1023 Allow certain Adult Family Homes to increase capacity to eight beds, currently capacity is at six beds.   Prime sponsor: Rep. Nicole Macri and 31 co-sponsors.  Signed by the Governor on March 31, 2020.
• HB 1551 Modernizing control of communicable disease (HIV). Requested by the Dep’t of Health. States that HIV is now considered to be a lifelong disease. The wording will change requirements for counseling and change the age of consent for testing for HIV. Modifies crimes related to transmission. Signed by the Governor on March 19, 2020.
• HB 1608  Protect Patient Care. Patients need access to full and complete information so they can make informed decisions. About 50 % of Washington hospitals are religious based. Many patients have reported that they cannot get access to information regarding Death with Dignity. Patients report being denied care or having care delayed when they are bleeding, cramping, and miscarrying. This bill aims to correct that. Signed by the Governor on March 25.
• HB 2457 Establish the health care cost transparency board. This bill provides a more holistic view of the health system and its cost drivers. This bill can identify cost savings from wasteful spending.  Supported by WA State Nurses Association and the Office of Ins. Commissioner and Labor Unions.  Signed by the Governor on April 3, 2020.    
• HB 2662  Establish the ‘Total Cost of insulin Work Group’. This bill is bi-partisan.  Signed by the Governor on April 3, 2020.
• SB 5282 Requiring informed consent for pelvic exams while under anesthesia.  Signed by the Governor on March 27, 2020
• SB 5601  Concerning registration of Health Care Benefit Managers (HCBM).  This bill will require HCBMs to be registered with the Office of Insurance Commissioner.  Signed by the Governor with a ‘partial veto’ of Section 21.  

• SSB 5976 Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD). ABCD is a nationally recognized model for connecting very young kids on Medicaid with dental care. Signed by the Governor on March 31, 2020.

• SB 6087 Cap out of pocket charges at $100 for 30 day supply of insulin. Signed by the Governor on March 31, 2020.
• SB 6267 Modifying the long-term services and supports trust program by clarifying the ability for individuals with existing long-term care insurance to opt-out of the premium assessment and making technical corrections. In May 2019 the Governor signed HB 1087 into law, creating the nation’s first Long Term Care Trust by Jan. 2021. SB 6267, if passed, corrects some issues needed before then. Requested by the Employment Security Department and is bi-partisan. Signed by the Governor on March 9, 2020.
• SB 6359 Creating regulation exemptions for rural health clinics providing services in a designated home health shortage area. Home health is important and is especially needed in rural areas. This bill would alleviate barriers by providing rural health clinics with the flexibility they need while still protecting patients. Signed by the Governor on March 31, 2020. 

Behavioral Health bills

• HB 1651 Centralize the rights available to individuals with developmental disabilities. Signed by the Governor on April 3, 2020.
• HB 2642  Removing health coverage barriers to access Substance Abuse treatment. Has passed in the House and in the Senate, and is on the Governor’s desk. .
• HB 2737 Update the children's mental health work group. Signed by the Governor on March 29, 2020.
• HB 2883 Expanding adolescent behavioral health care access. This bill has medical necessity at the center and reduces barriers to allow youth to access the appropriate services.  Signed by the Governor on March 27, 2020.
• SB 6086  Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder. Passed in the Senate.  Signed by the Governor on March 31, 2020.

Bills the League Supported That Passed Both Chambers

• HB 2419 Studying barriers to the use of Washington's death with dignity act. Requires the University of Washington to conduct the study. Passed in the House and Senate. Governor did not sign.
• HB 2554  Mitigating inequality in the health insurance market caused by health plans that exclude certain mandated benefits. Has passed in the House and Senate, Governor did not sign
• SB 6050 Concerns insurance guaranty fund. The purpose of this legislation is to support enrollees in the event of insolvency of Long Term Care Insurance providers.  Passed in the Senate and the House, however, the Senate refused to concur in House amendments. 
• HB 2905   Increase outreach and engagement with baby and child dentistry programs. Has passed in the House and in the Senate, Governor did not sign.
• SB 6088 Relating to establishing a 'Prescription Drug Affordability Board.' Has passed in the Senate and in the House. Governor did not sign
• HB 6128  Extending coverage during the postpartum period from 60 days to a full year. In October 2019 the maternal mortality review panel recommended ensuring funding and access to postpartum care and support through the first year after pregnancy. Passed in the Senate and in the House. The Governor did not sign this bill into law, there is a fiscal note attached. 

• Behavioral Health bills

  • HB 1651 Centralize the rights available to individuals with developmental disabilities. Passed in the House and in the Senate, and is on the Governor’s desk. The Governor did not sign this bill into law.

Bills the League Supported That Did Not Pass

• HB 1240 Relating to youth suicide review teams. Ask Rep. Mosbrucker to re-introduce HB 1240 in 2021. 
• HB 1317 Establishing the Profession of Dental Therapist. Dental Therapists will assure adequate dental care in rural and under-served areas and on Tribal lands. Training and licensing is required. LWVWA joined the WA Dental Access Campaign Coalition to support this bill.  After thirty amendments this bill is still in House Rules. Ask Rep. Cody to re-introduce this bill in 2021.  HB1697/SB 5814 Concerning health coverage for young adults regardless of immigration status. Ask Rep. Nicole Macri and Sen. Joe Nguyen to re-introduce these bills in 2021.

• HB1697 Concerning health coverage for young adults regardless of immigration status. Ask Rep. Nicole Macri to re-introduce these bills in 2021.

• HB 1811 Require a health insurance carrier to include coverage for hearing instruments for people under 19 years of age, which includes a new hearing instrument every five years. Prime sponsor Rep. Kilduff. Ask her to re-introduce this bill in 2021.

• HB 2252  A student health insurance plan for a student at an institution of higher education is subject to the abortion requirements applicable to other health plans. Passed in the House. Stalled in Senate Rules Committe

• HB 2326 Reporting end-of-life care policies. Prime sponsor: Re. Nicole Macri and twelve co-sponsors. Passed in the House on Feb. 14. Stalled in Senate Rules Committee.

• HB 2386 Creates the state office of Behavioral Health ombudsman. Passed in the House. Passed in the House. Stalled in Senate Rules Committee.  

• HB 2786 Establish the ‘Opioid epidemic response advisory council’. The Council will help make the most of financial penalties paid by opioid manufacturers and distributors, and ensure they are distributed to have the greatest impact possible, such as funding additional addiction treatment programs. Has passed in the House. Stalled in Senate Rules Committee.

• SB 5345 / HB 1968 Concerning health plan coverage for contralateral prophylactic mastectomies (CPM).   Ask Sen. Cleveland  To re-introduce this bill in 2021.  Ask Rep. Monica Stonier to re-introduce this bill in 2021
• SB 5483  Improving services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Requires the Health Care Authority (HCA) to create ‘behavioral health crisis teams’, subject to the availability of funding for that purpose.  Currently certain patients become housed in emergency rooms or hospitals during a short term crisis. Contact Sen. Braun or if your own Senator is a co-sponsor to ask them to re-introduce this bill in 2021.
• SB 5633 Educate a behavioral health workforce through an academic and career pathway programs. Ask Sen. Rolfes to re-introduce this bill in 2021.
• SB 6110 Relating to the importing of prescription drugs from Canada. Prime sponsor: Sen. Keiser and 12 co-sponsors. Contact Sen. Keiser to ask her to re-introduce this bill in 2021.
• SB 6113 Establish a work group to design a purchasing strategy to allow the Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium to act as the single purchaser of insulin for the state. The legislature intends to pursue a central insulin purchasing program to leverage the buying power of all insulin purchasers in the state and with the goal of lowering the cost of insulin. Passed in the Senate on Feb. 18, 2020. Stalled in House Rules Committee.  
• SB 6275 Increasing patient access rights to timely and appropriate post-acute care.  Bi-partisan. Passed in the Senate on Feb. 18, 2020.  Stalled in House Rules Committee. 
• SB 6396  Ensure  the continued viability of skilled nursing facilities. Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) are closing and/or operating in the red. Prime sponsor: Sen. O’Ban and 5 co-sponsors, the bill is bi-partisan. Contact Sen. O’Ban to ask that he re-introduce this bill in 2021.

Bills the League Watched

• SB 5222 Creating the Whole Washington Health Trust. Sponsor: Sen. Hasagawa and two co-sponsors. Ask Senator Hasagawa to re-introduce SB 5222 again in 2021 (will be re-numbered).
• HB 1104 Requires the submission of a waiver to the federal government to create the Washington Health Security Trust.  Sponsor: Rep. Appleton Rep. Appleton will retire this year after introducing the WHST every biennium since 2011, write to her now to ask that HB 1104 is re-introduced by another Representative in 2021.

Bills the League Opposed in Reproductive Rights That Did Not Pass