Palliative care/volunteer

AN ACT Relating to the provision of palliative care services by 1
volunteer organizations that provide hospice care without 2
compensation; amending 2024 c 166 s 1 (uncodified); and declaring an 3
emergency. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. 2024 c 166 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as 6
follows: 7
(1) The office of the insurance commissioner, in consultation 8
with the health care authority, shall convene a work group to design 9
the parameters of a palliative care benefit and payment model for the 10
benefit of fully insured health plans, as defined in RCW 48.43.005. 11
The work group must coordinate its work with the ongoing work at the 12
health care authority related to designing a palliative care benefit 13
for the state medicaid program and the employee and retiree benefits 14
program. 15
(2)(a) The work group shall consider the following elements of a 16
palliative care benefit: 17
(((a))) (i) Clinical eligibility criteria; 18
(((b))) (ii) The services included in a palliative care benefit;19
(((c))) (iii) Appropriate staffing, including staffing models and 20
provider training; 21
H-0480.1
HOUSE BILL 1577
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Bernbaum, Tharinger, Gregerson, Wylie, Simmons,
and Reed
Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Health Care &
Wellness.
p. 1 HB 1577
(((d))) (iv) Evaluation criteria and reporting requirements; and1
(((e))) (v) Payment models. 2
(b) Any recommendations related to the palliative care benefit 3
developed under (a) of this subsection must permit volunteer 4
organizations that provide hospice care without receiving 5
compensation pursuant to RCW 70.127.050 to provide palliative care 6
without meeting the elements of the palliative care benefit or having 7
to receive a license to provide palliative care services.8
(3) The commissioner may contract with a vendor to conduct 9
actuarial analysis if necessary. 10
(4) The work group shall consist of the following members:11
(a) One representative from the office of the insurance 12
commissioner to be appointed by the commissioner; 13
(b) One representative from the health care authority to be 14
selected by the director of the health care authority;15
(c) One representative from the department of social and health 16
services to be appointed by the secretary of the department;17
(d) One representative from the department of health in-home 18
services program to be appointed by the secretary of health;19
(e) One representative from the Washington health benefit 20
exchange to be appointed by the chief executive officer of the 21
exchange; 22
(f) One representative from the Washington state hospice and 23
palliative care organization; 24
(g) Four representatives currently providing palliative care, 25
either as clinicians or operational leaders for a hospice or 26
palliative care program, including at least one physician, to be 27
selected by the Washington state hospice and palliative care 28
organization; 29
(h) One representative from the association of Washington health 30
care plans; 31
(i) One representative from a commercial health carrier and one 32
representative from a medicaid managed care organization to be 33
selected by the association of Washington health care plans;34
(j) One representative from the Washington state hospital 35
association; 36
(k) One representative from the home care association of 37
Washington; 38
(l) One representative from the Washington health alliance; 39
((and))40
p. 2 HB 1577
(m) One representative from the Washington state nurses 1
association; and2
(n) One representative from a volunteer organization that 3
provides hospice care without receiving compensation pursuant to RCW 4
70.127.050. 5
(5) The work group shall convene its first meeting by July 30, 6
2024, and shall submit a report to the legislature detailing its work 7
and any recommendations, including any legislation, by November 1, 8
2025. 9
(6) For the purposes of this section, "palliative care" means 10
expert assessment and management of a patient's symptoms, including 11
coordination of care, attending to the physical, functional, 12
psychological, practical, and spiritual consequences of serious 13
illness, and assessment and support of caregiver needs. Palliative 14
care is a person- and family-centered approach to care, providing 15
people living with serious illness relief from the symptoms and 16
stress of an illness, and can be delivered alongside life-prolonging 17
or curative care. 18
(7) This section expires June 1, 2026. 19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 20
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 21
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 22
effect immediately.23
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p. 3 HB 1577