Bill Increases Access to Affordable Healthcare in Washington

According to a March 8 news release, the Washington Legislature has passed Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bill to increase access to affordable healthcare for millions of Washingtonians. The measure now heads to the governor for his signature.

The release states that “Ferguson worked with prime sponsor Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, and Reps. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, and Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, on HB 1616 to strengthen Washington’s charity care law. Ferguson’s Attorney General Request legislation will expand charity care eligibility to more than 1 million Washingtonians, and guarantee free hospital care to an additional million Washingtonians who are currently eligible for discounted care.”

The legislation requires large hospital systems to provide more financial assistance. Starting on July 1, half of all Washingtonians will be eligible for free or reduced-cost care at hospitals that represent approximately 80 percent of the licensed beds throughout the state.

Ferguson was quoted in the release saying that “Too many Washingtonians are just one hospital bill away from financial crisis. Under current law, a single parent working two minimum wage jobs at 50 hours per week was not eligible for financial assistance at Washington hospitals—that’s not right and it needed to change. This bill ensures that help is there for those who need it.”

Rep. Simmons was also quoted in the release saying that “No Washingtonian should be bankrupted by a trip to the emergency room. I am proud to have worked with the Attorney General to update and standardize Washington’s charity care law. Four million Washingtonians will now be eligible for free or reduced out-of-pocket hospital costs making our healthcare system fairer and more equitable.”

“Ferguson and Simmons’ legislation establishes two tiers of financial assistance—one for large health care systems and another for smaller, independent hospitals,” the release adds. “Once SHB 1616 takes effect, Washington will have the strongest protections in the country for out-of-pocket hospital costs.”

Two-thirds of individuals in the U.S. who file for bankruptcy cite medical issues as a key contributor and ore than half of collection items on credit reports are for medical debt. Additionally, access to care is an equity issue, as communities of color are disproportionately underinsured and vulnerable when it comes to unexpected medical expenses.

Moreover, “The bill significantly increases eligibility for full write-offs of out-of-pocket hospital costs, as well as expanding eligibility for discounts. The bill ensures all Washingtonians within 300 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for financial assistance, with discounts up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level for the vast majority of Washington hospital beds.”