Health care financing

AN ACT Relating to establishing a joint legislative executive 1
committee on health care financing; creating new sections; and 2
providing an expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:5
(1) The health care system in Washington state is at a turning 6
point. Federal actions have undermined the foundation of our health 7
care system, and now more than ever it must function with fewer 8
resources while serving more patients. 9
(2) A convening of state experts is needed to develop 10
recommendations and strategies to stabilize the health care system, 11
including ensuring access to care and making health care premiums, 12
health care services, and medications more affordable for the 13
residents of Washington state. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The joint legislative executive 15
committee on health care financing is established, composed of the 16
following members:17
(a) Two members from the house of representatives, representing 18
each of the two largest caucuses; 19
S-4055.2
SENATE BILL 6292
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Cleveland, Muzzall, Hasegawa, and Nobles
Read first time 01/22/26. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-
Term Care.
p. 1 SB 6292
(b) Two members from the senate, representing each of the two 1
largest caucuses; 2
(c) A member from the office of the governor, appointed by the3
governor; 4
(d) The director of the health care authority or their designee;5
(e) The secretary of the department of social and health6
services or their designee; 7
(f) The secretary of health or their designee; 8
(g) The director of the office of financial management or their 9
designee; 10
(h) The chief executive officer of the health benefit exchange or 11
their designee; 12
(i) The insurance commissioner or their designee; and13
(j) A representative from the tribal governments, knowledgeable 14
in Indian health care delivery in the state. 15
(2) The committee shall hold its first meeting by August 1, 2026, 16
and the committee members shall elect a chair from among its members 17
at the committee's first meeting. 18
(3) The office of financial management shall staff the committee.19
(4) The committee's meetings shall be open to the public pursuant 20
to chapter 42.30 RCW. The office of financial management shall 21
publish on its website the dates and locations of committee meetings, 22
agendas of prior and upcoming meetings, and meeting materials for 23
prior and upcoming meetings. Meetings may be held in person, 24
virtually, or in a hybrid format. 25
(5) The committee shall investigate strategies and develop policy 26
options to create financing mechanisms to better support statewide 27
health care access and health care coverage. This may include, but is 28
not limited to, recommendations related to: 29
(a) Health care and prescription drug purchasing strategies, 30
including consideration of existing care models that have 31
demonstrated improved outcomes and cost savings; 32
(b) Health care provider reimbursement structures and alternative 33
payment models, including consideration of existing care models that 34
have demonstrated improved outcomes and cost savings;35
(c) Health plan benefit design and cost sharing;36
(d) Administrative simplification for state health care 37
regulations or within state-regulated health programs;38
(e) Accessing and leveraging federal funds; 39
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(f) Identifying at least two specific components of the broader 1
health system that would benefit from direct state action; and2
(g) Other topics as identified by the committee.3
(6) When considering strategies and developing policy options, 4
the committee shall consult experts in health care financing that 5
have relevant experience with the policy being considered including, 6
but not limited to, health care administrators, provider 7
organizations, health carriers, and health care economists.8
(7) The office of financial management may contract with a vendor 9
to conduct an economic and actuarial analysis of recommendations or 10
other data analysis as necessary, and to facilitate the development 11
of the recommendations. 12
(8) The committee members may be reimbursed for travel expenses 13
as authorized under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and chapter 44.04 14
RCW as appropriate. 15
(9) The committee shall deliver a preliminary report to the 16
governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, and a final report by 17
November 1, 2027. 18
(10) This section expires on January 1, 2028. 19
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