Legislators from both parties met virtually on Jan. 6 at the 2022 Washington State of Reform Health Policy conference to discuss their health care priorities ahead of the legislative session.
The 2022 session begins on Monday, and while it is a short one, there are a number of bills already filed and being drafted. Democrats Rep. Jessica Bateman and Sens. Emily Randall and Karen Keiser outlined their policy priorities during their panel.
Prescription drug costs are an issue that Keiser has devoted a significant amount of time to, and this session is no different. SB 5532 was introduced last month, and is a retooling of a bill that was approved, and then vetoed by Gov. Jay Inslee, in the 2020 session. The bill would create a prescription drug affordability board that would create upper payment limits for up to 12 prescription drugs a year.