Bill > SB6159

This bill aims to strengthen public hospitals by allowing them to collaborate and form agreements on a non-competitive basis to better serve their communities, especially those who rely on them for care due to being low-income, uninsured, or having complex medical needs. It amends existing laws to permit public hospital districts, that are not affiliated with private entities, to enter into cooperative agreements with other public hospital districts and publicly owned or operated health care entities for services, equipment, and payment arrangements. Additionally, the bill establishes a new annual coverage assessment of $0.75 per coverage month for authorized insurers and taxpayers subject to certain taxes, with the collected revenue going into a newly created "public hospital infrastructure account" to provide funding assistance for major construction or modernization projects at public district hospitals or other publicly owned health care entities.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6159&Year=2025&Initiative=false