Dear friends and neighbors,

This session the Legislature continued to work to ensure everyone in Washington has access to quality, affordable health care. In the face of devastating federal funding cuts, we worked to ensure people have safe, consistent access to reproductive care, vaccines, and other essential services and by making the health care marketplace fairer for consumers. The state budget backfills Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and includes funding for very ill or disabled Washingtonians who were kicked off Medicaid, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to health care access, regardless of harmful actions at the federal level.

Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care

  • SB 5917 expands abortion access and reproductive rights with legislation expanding the availability of mifepristone pills, which are essential to both medicinal abortions and miscarriage care.
  • SB 6182 sets up a permanent funding source for abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood. This will help patients in Washington continue to access affordable, essential reproductive health care.

Protecting Science-Based Health Care

  • HB 2242 will ensure Washingtonians have access to affordable preventative services, including vaccines, well-child visits, cancer screenings, and chronic disease management. The new law also shifts the authority for recommending covered vaccines from the federal government to the Washington State Department of Health, protecting access to preventive care based on valid science and evidence.

Protecting Access for Vulnerable People

  • SB 5981 prohibits drug companies from placing restrictions on the use of contract pharmacies in the 340B program, so hospitals and clinics can continue to serve vulnerable members of their communities.
  • SB 6183 ensures that HIV prevention and treatment medications are available without prior authorization and step therapy, ensuring early treatment and preventing transmission.
  • HB 2152 requires hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care centers to allow the medical use of cannabis by qualifying patients with a terminal condition. It will guarantee patients are able to use medical cannabis instead of other stronger pain medications during treatment for a terminal illness, helping them to retain a higher quality of life.

Making the Health Care Marketplace Fairer

  • HB 2548 will help shield patients from the high cost of hospital mergers.
  • SB 5395 protects patients and providers from unfair prior authorization practices. The bill prohibits the use of AI for prior authorization denials, requires easily accessible notices of prior authorization changes, and prohibits retrospective denials.
  • HB 2155 ensures transparency for patients, so that chatbots and other online tools can’t use the title of nurse. As the use of AI technology in health care grows, this bill ensures there isn’t confusion about whether medical information is coming from a licensed professional.
  • SB 5845 helps ensure that providers stay solvent and are able to keep up with their expenses and aren’t left waiting for payment on claims that should be paid or having payments clawed back after long periods of time.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you missed my newsletters on the Millionaires Tax, affordable housing, efforts to protect Washington from the Trump administration, LGBTQ+ rights, or community investments, they are available on my website. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions at Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov.

Best wishes,

Jamie