Bill > SB5881

This bill establishes a mechanism to redirect potential cost savings from federal healthcare legislation (specifically P.L. 119-21) into enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers and hospitals. The bill creates a new Medicaid Enhanced Provider Rate Account in the state treasury, where funds will be transferred annually based on calculated savings. The Washington State Health Care Authority is required to annually calculate and report specific types of state expenditure reductions, including those resulting from changes in Medicaid eligibility rules, such as moratoriums on program enrollment, stricter eligibility redeterminations, community engagement requirements, enhanced verification of deceased individuals, reductions in retroactive coverage periods, and modifications to cost-sharing requirements. These calculated savings will then be transferred from the general fund to the new account, which can only be spent after legislative appropriation specifically for increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to providers and hospitals. The bill is declared an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage, with the goal of supporting the state's healthcare infrastructure and providers.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5881&Year=2025&Initiative=false