Patient advocates

AN ACT Relating to patient advocates; and adding a new section to 1
chapter 70.41 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.41 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) On or before January 1, 2027, hospitals licensed under this 6
chapter must have a staff member employed as a patient advocate who 7
is physically present every day throughout the 24-hour period for the 8
purpose of assisting patients navigate the health care system on 9
behalf of the patient. 10
(2) The requirement outlined in subsection (1) of this section 11
does not apply to: 12
(a) Rural hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and 13
medicaid services as sole community hospitals or critical access 14
hospitals except for hospitals that are owned or operated by a health 15
system that owns or operates more than two acute care hospitals 16
licensed under this chapter; 17
(b) Hospitals located on an island operating within a public 18
hospital district in Skagit county; and 19
(c) Hospitals that are not currently designated as a critical 20
access hospital, do not meet current federal eligibility requirements 21
S-3510.1
SENATE BILL 5823
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Cortes, Hasegawa, and Valdez
Prefiled 12/03/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5823
for designation as a critical access hospital, have combined medicaid 1
and medicare inpatient days greater than 60 percent of all hospital 2
inpatient days, and are located on the land of a federally recognized 3
Indian tribe. 4
(3) On or before January 1, 2027, hospitals that are exempt under 5
subsection (2) of this section must provide patients with access to a 6
patient advocate, which may be provided as contact information for a 7
patient advocacy service, including a telephone or videoconference 8
number. The hospital must verify those services are active and 9
familiar with Washington health systems. The hospital must also share 10
with the patient how to provide the patient advocate access to any 11
necessary information including, but not limited to, medical records 12
of the patient. 13
(4) A patient advocate must assist patients within the hospital 14
by supporting the patient as the patient is navigating the health 15
care system. The patient advocate may provide patients with 16
assistance with the following services that include, but are not 17
limited to: 18
(a) Accessing and obtaining their medical records;19
(b) Scheduling appointments and follow-up treatment plans and 20
treatment visits; 21
(c) Collaborating with the health care team of the patients to 22
provide the patients with better understanding of their medical 23
condition, treatment options, and other care-related questions; and24
(d) Representing the interest of the patients by asking 25
questions, writing down information, and supporting patients with 26
their communication with health care providers, insurance companies, 27
and hospitals. 28
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p. 2 SB 5823