Health technology assessment

AN ACT Relating to the health technology assessment program; and 1
amending RCW 70.14.100 and 70.14.110. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 70.14.100 and 2006 c 307 s 3 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) The administrator, in consultation with participating 6
agencies and the committee, shall select the health technologies to 7
be reviewed by the committee under RCW 70.14.110. Up to six may be 8
selected for review in the first year after June 7, 2006, and up to 9
eight may be selected in the second year after June 7, 2006. In 10
making the selection, priority shall be given to any technology 11
((for)):12
(a) For which patient access is established or recommended for a 13
patient population under the federal medicare program, including 14
local coverage determinations or national coverage determinations, or 15
in nationally recognized expert treatment guidelines, including 16
guidelines developed by specialty physician organizations or patient 17
advocacy organizations; and18
(b) For which: 19
H-2511.1
HOUSE BILL 2204
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Parshley, Stuebe, Reed, and Thai
Prefiled 12/29/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health Care & Wellness.
p. 1 HB 2204
(((a))) (i) There are concerns about its safety, efficacy, or 1
cost-effectiveness, especially relative to existing alternatives, or 2
significant variations in its use; 3
(((b))) (ii) Actual or expected state expenditures are high, due 4
to demand for the technology, its cost, or both; and5
(((c))) (iii) There is adequate evidence available to conduct the 6
complete review. 7
(2) A health technology for which the committee has made a 8
determination under RCW 70.14.110 shall be considered for rereview at 9
least once every ((eighteen)) 18 months, beginning the date the 10
determination is made. The administrator, in consultation with 11
participating agencies and the committee, shall select the technology 12
for rereview if he or she decides that evidence has since become 13
available that could change a previous determination. Upon rereview, 14
consideration shall be given ((only)) to evidence made available 15
since the committee's previous determination evaluated in combination 16
and within the context of the clinical evidence the committee 17
considered previously. 18
(3) Pursuant to a petition submitted by an interested party, the 19
health technology clinical committee may select health technologies 20
for review that have not otherwise been selected by the administrator 21
under subsection (1) or (2) of this section. 22
(4) Upon the selection of a health technology for review, the 23
administrator shall contract for a systematic evidence-based 24
assessment of the technology's safety, efficacy, and cost-25
effectiveness. The contract shall: 26
(a) Be with an evidence-based practice center designated as such 27
by the federal agency for health care research and quality, or other 28
appropriate entity; 29
(b) Require the assessment be initiated no sooner than ((thirty)) 30
30 days after notice of the selection of the health technology for 31
review is posted on the internet under RCW 70.14.130;32
(c) Require, in addition to other information considered as part 33
of the assessment, consideration of: (i) Safety, health outcome, and 34
cost data submitted by a participating agency; and (ii) evidence 35
submitted by any interested party; and 36
(d) Require the assessment to: (i) Give the greatest weight to 37
the evidence determined, based on objective indicators, to be the 38
most valid and reliable, considering the nature and source of the 39
evidence, the empirical characteristic of the studies or trials upon 40
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which the evidence is based, and the consistency of the outcome with 1
comparable studies; and (ii) take into account any unique impacts of 2
the technology on specific populations based upon factors such as 3
sex, age, ethnicity, race, or disability. 4
(5) In the case of life-threatening or rare diseases, the 5
committee shall:6
(a) Evaluate all applicable clinical trials regarding the 7
technology published in the peer-reviewed clinical literature 8
including, but not limited to, randomized controlled trials; and9
(b) If applicable, take into account information submitted by 10
clinical experts indicating that performing a randomized controlled 11
trial or other specific trial design would be unethical, impractical, 12
or impossible with respect to the given technology within a specific 13
patient population.14
Sec. 2. RCW 70.14.110 and 2006 c 307 s 4 are each amended to 15
read as follows: 16
(1) The committee shall determine, for each health technology 17
selected for review under RCW 70.14.100: (a) The conditions, if any, 18
under which the health technology will be included as a covered 19
benefit in health care programs of participating agencies; and (b) if 20
covered, the criteria which the participating agency administering 21
the program must use to decide whether the technology is medically 22
necessary, or proper and necessary treatment. 23
(2) In making a determination under subsection (1) of this 24
section, the committee: 25
(a) Shall consider, in an open and transparent process, evidence 26
regarding the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the 27
technology as set forth in the systematic assessment conducted under 28
RCW 70.14.100(4); 29
(b) Shall provide an opportunity for public comment; and30
(c) May establish ad hoc temporary advisory groups if specialized 31
expertise is needed to review a particular health technology or group 32
of health technologies, or to seek input from enrollees or clients of 33
state purchased health care programs. Advisory group members are 34
immune from civil liability for any official act performed in good 35
faith as a member of the group. As a condition of appointment, each 36
person shall agree to the terms and conditions imposed by the 37
administrator regarding conflicts of interest. 38
p. 3 HB 2204
(3) Determinations of the committee under subsection (1) of this 1
section shall be consistent with decisions made under the federal 2
medicare program and in expert treatment guidelines, including those 3
from specialty physician organizations and patient advocacy 4
organizations, unless the committee concludes, based on its review of 5
the systematic assessment, that substantial evidence regarding the 6
safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the technology supports a 7
contrary determination. 8
(4) The health care authority shall publish receipt of 9
submissions for new health technology assessments and rereview 10
assessments on the authority's website within 30 days of receipt. The 11
committee shall review, complete its determination, and communicate 12
its decision for a new health technology assessment or rereview 13
assessment to the submitting party within 180 days of the initial 14
date of submission. In the case of an adverse determination, the 15
committee shall provide the submitting party with a written 16
substantive explanation of the rationale for the adverse 17
determination within 180 days of the initial date of submission.18
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p. 4 HB 2204