Bill > HB1766

This bill adds a new provision to Washington state law that prevents health carriers (insurance companies) who are acting as third-party administrators for self-insured health plans covering public employees from forcing state-owned hospital systems to participate in their commercial health plans as a requirement for negotiating or participating in the self-funded plan. Specifically, a health carrier cannot mandate that a hospital system owned or operated by the state of Washington join their commercial health plans in order to be included in a self-funded plan serving public employees. The bill defines "health carrier" using the existing definition in RCW 48.43.005, which typically refers to entities that provide health insurance coverage. By prohibiting these mandatory participation requirements, the bill aims to protect state-owned hospital systems from being compelled to engage in additional commercial health plans as a condition of serving public employees through self-insured coverage.