KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Washington

HB1971 • 2026

Prescription hormone therapy

Increasing access to prescription hormone therapy.

Healthcare Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Macri, Representative Doglio, Representative Parshley, Representative Berry, Representative Ramel, Representative Ormsby, Representative Pollet, Representative Scott, Representative Hill
Last action
2025-03-08
Official status
H subst for
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prescription hormone therapy

Prescription hormone therapy

What This Bill Does

  • Prescription hormone therapy

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 233

227 • Marshall

WITHDRAWN

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 233 1 - Official Print 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 233 SHB 1971 - H AMD 227 By Representative Marshall WITHDRAWN 03/08/2025 On page 2, beginning on line 20, after "levels" strike all material through "include" on line 21 and insert ", including" On page 2, after line 33, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 233 1 - Official Print 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 233 SHB 1971 - H AMD 227 By Representative Marshall WITHDRAWN 03/08/2025 On page 2, beginning on line 20, after "levels" strike all material through "include" on line 21 and insert ", including" On page 2, after line 33, insert the following: "NEW SECTION.
  • Sec.
  • 3.
  • A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows: (1) The authority shall require that any prescription hormone therapy covered by medical assistance programs established under this chapter provide reimbursement for a 12-month refill of covered prescription hormone therapy obtained at one time by the enrollee, unless the enrollee requests a smaller supply, the prescribing provider instructs that the enrollee must receive a smaller supply, or the prescription hormone therapy is a controlled substance.
1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 229

228 • Marshall

WITHDRAWN

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 229 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires that, for the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement to apply to enrollees under 18 years of age, they must have a proven laboratory deficiency that is consistent with their biological genotype and age and that requires a hormone intervention according to the American Medical Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, or the American College of Pediatricians.

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 229 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires that, for the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement to apply to enrollees under 18 years of age, they must have a proven laboratory deficiency that is consistent with their biological genotype and age and that requires a hormone intervention according to the American Medical Association, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, or the American College of Pediatricians.
  • 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 229 SHB 1971 - H AMD 228 By Representative Marshall WITHDRAWN 03/08/2025 On page 1, line 9, after "(1)" strike "A" and insert "(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a" On page 2, after line 2, insert the following: "(b) Nothing in (a) of this subsection applies to refills of prescription hormone therapy for an enrollee under 18 years of age unless the enrollee has a hormone deficiency proven through laboratory testing that is consistent with the enrollee's biological genotype and age that requires a hormone intervention according to the American medical association, the American association of clinical endocrinology, or the American college of pediatricians, such as treatment for precocious puberty, testicular feminization, or other genetic hormone abnormalities." --- END
1971-S AMH COUT BLAC 230

229 • Couture

NOT ADOPTED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH COUT BLAC 230 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Limits the application of the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement for prescription hormone therapy to health plan enrollees who are 18 years of age or older, unless an enrollee under age 18 has the consent of a parent or guardian.

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH COUT BLAC 230 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Limits the application of the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement for prescription hormone therapy to health plan enrollees who are 18 years of age or older, unless an enrollee under age 18 has the consent of a parent or guardian.
  • 1971-S AMH COUT BLAC 230 SHB 1971 - H AMD 229 By Representative Couture NOT ADOPTED 03/08/2025 On page 1, line 9, after "(1)" strike "A" and insert "(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a" On page 2, after line 2, insert the following: "(b) Nothing in (a) of this subsection applies to an enrollee under 18 years of age, unless an enrollee's parent or guardian has consented to the provisions of this section." --- END
1971-S AMH MACR BLAC 234

232 • Macri

ADOPTED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MACR BLAC 234 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Limits the 12-month refill requirement to only prescription hormone therapy that is able to be safely stored at room temperature without refrigeration.

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MACR BLAC 234 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Limits the 12-month refill requirement to only prescription hormone therapy that is able to be safely stored at room temperature without refrigeration.
  • 1971-S AMH MACR BLAC 234 SHB 1971 - H AMD 232 By Representative Macri ADOPTED 03/08/2025 On page 1, line 15, after "substance." insert "The 12-month refill requirement only applies to prescription hormone therapy that is able to be safely stored at room temperature without refrigeration." --- END
1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 235

490 • Marshall

NOT ADOPTED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 235 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires that, for the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement to apply to enrollees under 18 years of age, they must have a hormone deficiency proven through laboratory testing that is consistent with their biological genotype and age and that requires a hormone intervention according to the American Medical Association or the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 235 1 - Official Print EFFECT: Requires that, for the 12-month hormone therapy refill requirement to apply to enrollees under 18 years of age, they must have a hormone deficiency proven through laboratory testing that is consistent with their biological genotype and age and that requires a hormone intervention according to the American Medical Association or the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.
  • 1971-S AMH MARS BLAC 235 SHB 1971 - H AMD 490 By Representative Marshall NOT ADOPTED 03/08/2025 On page 1, line 9, after "(1)" strike "A" and insert "(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a" On page 2, after line 2, insert the following: "(b) Nothing in (a) of this subsection applies to refills of prescription hormone therapy for an enrollee under 18 years of age unless the enrollee has a hormone deficiency proven through laboratory testing that is consistent with the enrollee's biological genotype and age that requires a hormone intervention according to the American medical association or the American association of clinical endocrinology, such as treatment for precocious puberty, testicular feminization, or other genetic hormone abnormalities." --- END
1971-S.E AMS MCCU S3195.1

424 • McCune

WITHDRAWN

Plain English: 1971-S.E AMS MCCU S3195.1 ESHB 1971 - S AMD 424 By Senator McCune WITHDRAWN 04/16/2025 On page 2, after line 34, insert the following:1 "NEW SECTION.

  • 1971-S.E AMS MCCU S3195.1 ESHB 1971 - S AMD 424 By Senator McCune WITHDRAWN 04/16/2025 On page 2, after line 34, insert the following:1 "NEW SECTION.
  • Sec.
  • 3.
  • A new section is added to chapter 18.64 2 RCW to read as follows: 3 No pharmacist may dispense a 12-month refill of a puberty blocker 4 to an individual under the age of 18 unless the pharmacist has 5 obtained informed consent from the individual indicating that they 6 understand the potential side effects of the drug."7 ESHB 1971 - S AMD 424 By Senator McCune WITHDRAWN 04/16/2025 On page 1, line 5 of the title, after " 41.05.017;" strike "and 8 adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW" and insert "adding a new 9 section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 10 18.64 RCW" 11 EFFECT: Requires that before a pharmacist may dispense a 12-month refill of a puberty blocker to an individual under 18 years old, the pharmacist must obtain informed consent from the individual indicating that they understand the potential side effects of the drug.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-08 House

    1st substitute bill substituted.

Official Summary Text

Prescription hormone therapy

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to increasing access to prescription hormone 1
therapy to patients of all ages by requiring health plans to provide 2
reimbursement for a 12-month refill of prescription hormone therapy 3
obtained at one time by an enrollee; reenacting and amending RCW 4
41.05.017; and adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 7
RCW to read as follows: 8
(1) A health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, 9
that includes coverage for prescription hormone therapy must provide 10
reimbursement for a 12-month refill of covered prescription hormone 11
therapy obtained at one time by the enrollee, unless the enrollee 12
requests a smaller supply, the prescribing provider instructs that 13
the enrollee must receive a smaller supply, or the prescription 14
hormone therapy is a controlled substance. If the prescription 15
hormone therapy is a controlled substance, the health plan must 16
provide reimbursement for the maximum refill allowed under state and 17
federal law to be obtained at one time by the enrollee. Any 18
dispensing practices required by the health plan must follow clinical 19
guidelines for appropriate prescribing and dispensing to ensure the 20
H-1352.1
HOUSE BILL 1971
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Macri, Doglio, Parshley, Berry, Ramel, Ormsby,
Pollet, Scott, and Hill
Read first time 02/13/25. Referred to Committee on Health Care &
Wellness.
p. 1 HB 1971
health of the patient while maximizing access to effective 1
prescription hormone therapy. 2
(2) Nothing in this section prohibits a health plan from limiting 3
refills that may be obtained in the last quarter of the plan year if 4
a 12-month supply of the prescription hormone therapy has already 5
been dispensed during the plan year. 6
(3) Nothing in this section prohibits a prescribing provider from 7
temporarily limiting refills that may be obtained to a 90-day supply 8
at one time if the prescription hormone therapy is experiencing an 9
acute dispensing shortage during the plan year provided limits must 10
be rescinded at first opportunity of a regularly reinstated, 11
sustainable supply. 12
(4) For purposes of this section, "prescription hormone therapy" 13
means all drugs approved by the United States food and drug 14
administration that are used to medically suppress, increase, or 15
replace hormones that the body is not producing at intended levels. 16
Prescription hormone therapy does not include glucagon-like peptide-1 17
and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. 18
Sec. 2. RCW 41.05.017 and 2024 c 251 s 5 and 2024 c 242 s 10 are 19
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 20
Each health plan that provides medical insurance offered under 21
this chapter, including plans created by insuring entities, plans not 22
subject to the provisions of Title 48 RCW, and plans created under 23
RCW 41.05.140, are subject to the provisions of RCW 48.43.500, 24
70.02.045, 48.43.505 through 48.43.535, 48.43.537, 48.43.545, 25
48.43.550, 70.02.110, 70.02.900, 48.43.190, 48.43.083, 48.43.0128, 26
48.43.780, 48.43.435, 48.43.815, 48.200.020 through 48.200.280, 27
48.200.300 through 48.200.320, 48.43.440, section 1 of this act, and 28
chapter 48.49 RCW. 29
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1971