FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 14, 2023
OLYMPIA – Sen. Annette Cleveland’s (D-Vancouver) legislation ordering a review of the state’s essential health benefits before the upcoming federal deadline was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday.
Under the Affordable Care Act, each state must designate an Essential Health Benefits plan to serve as a benchmark for all individual and small group health plans offered in the state. Essential health benefits include emergency care, maternity and newborn services preventative care, prescription drug coverage and more.
Senate Bill 5338 orders the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, along with relevant entities, to review Washington’s current essential health benefits plan so any needed changes can be made before the 2024 federal deadline. Health care advancements have made new therapies and treatments available. It is important to periodically review to determine whether any of these should be mandated to be covered by health insurance in our state.
“This legislation may seem very simple, but it ensures that patients in Washington will continue to be covered for the care they need,” Sen. Cleveland said.
This legislation has an emergency clause and takes effect immediately so the OIC can report the results of the review to the Legislature by Dec. 31, 2023.
