Olympia – A bill to update Washington’s state health plan was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson today.
Senate Bill 5568, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-Vancouver), will direct the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to update the state health plan to develop a statewide health resources strategy in cooperation with public and private stakeholders.
The state health plan, developed in 1987 under the State Health Planning and Resources Development Act, outlines goals for improving Washingtonians’ health. It includes recommendations for making health care more accessible and higher quality, keeping health care costs under control, and planning for long-term care needs.
“While much of our state plan is still relevant, it desperately needs to be reviewed and updated,” Cleveland said. “Everyone agrees our health system is not meeting the needs of Washingtonians right now. Updating the state health plan and ensuring its recommendations reflect today’s challenges is a key step toward a fair, effective health care system that works for all of us.”
In 2007, the Legislature directed OFM to develop a statewide health resource strategy with planning policies and goals to improve Washington’s health care system. Since then, OFM has served as a coordinating body for public and private efforts to improve health care quality, cost, and availability.
SB 5568 directs OFM to release a preliminary report outlining its work in developing a state health resources strategy by July 1, 2026, and submit a completed health resources strategy report to the governor and relevant legislative committees by Dec. 31, 2027. The law will go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of session.
