Health care board

AN ACT Relating to establishing the Washington health care board; 1
adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; and providing a contingent 2
effective date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 41.05 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) The Washington health care board is established. The health 7
care board shall design and implement the Washington health plan to 8
provide for all medically necessary health care services for all 9
residents of the state. The plan may not be implemented until the 10
state obtains a federal waiver for a state-based universal health 11
care plan and receives federal funding to support the implementation 12
of the plan and any necessary implementing legislation has been 13
adopted by the legislature. 14
(2) The health care board shall consist of 19 members appointed 15
by the governor as follows: 16
(a) Five members representing employers; 17
(b) Six members who are practicing health care providers in the 18
state as follows: 19
(i) Two physicians, at least one of whom must be a primary care 20
physician; 21
S-3647.1
SENATE BILL 5947
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Hasegawa, Bateman, Chapman, Orwall, Riccelli, and Saldaña
Prefiled 12/29/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5947
(ii) One registered nurse; 1
(iii) One mental health provider; 2
(iv) One dentist; and 3
(v) One naturopath; 4
(c) One health care facility director; 5
(d) One member with expertise in health care financing;6
(e) One member with expertise in prescription drug purchasing and 7
economics; 8
(f) One tribal representative; 9
(g) One member representing organized labor; and10
(h) Three members representing health-related state agencies.11
(3) Members of the health care board shall serve four-year terms 12
and shall select a board chair from among the members.13
(4) The health care board shall: 14
(a) Design the Washington health care plan and conduct or 15
contract for any necessary actuarial and economic analyses needed to 16
support the development of a plan; 17
(b) Hire any necessary staff; 18
(c) Set a detailed timeline for plan implementation and submit 19
any necessary waivers to obtain federal approval and funding;20
(d) Upon federal approval of a waiver or, if required by federal 21
law or regulation, prior to submission of a waiver application, make 22
recommendations to the legislature to implement the plan, including 23
necessary statutory changes to establish requirements for benefits 24
under the plan, eligibility for the plan, provider participation and 25
payments, and financing for the plan; 26
(e) Once the plan is implemented, administer all aspects of the 27
plan; and 28
(f) Conduct activities the health care board considers necessary 29
to carry out the purposes of this act. 30
(5) The authority may adopt any rules necessary to implement this 31
section. 32
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) This act takes effect upon the 33
enactment of federal law that authorizes a state to obtain a waiver 34
to establish a state-based universal health care plan and to receive 35
federal funding for that plan.36
(2) The health care authority shall provide written notice of the 37
effective date of this act to affected parties, the chief clerk of 38
the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office 39
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of the code reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the 1
authority. 2
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