We are now marching toward the first cut off date of Feburary 21st, when bills need to be out of their policy committee of origin to be considered “Alive.” This means committees are buckling down to get bills heard, lobbyists are begging to get bills scheduled for hearings, and bills are being frantically introduced to try and get them in line.

At the same time, bills are starting to pass out of committee and even off of the House floor. In addition, the hearings in the fiscal committees are ramping up to begin the process of sorting what might go through for the budget and what might not. The result is a lot of frantic, exhausted human beings who probably haven’t eaten anything healthy in days. (Shameless plug for a decent cafeteria at the Capitol and napping rooms😊.)

For WDA, I testified this week on both HB 1535 and SB 5351, the bill regarding changes needed to dental insurance (specifically Delta Dental). Rather than testify in support, I testified as “other” regarding the need to include licensed denturists in any bill dealing with dental insurance AND to ensure that insurers are paying denturists according to our law. Stakeholder meetings have been set up on this issue and I have been told I will be “brought into those meetings” soon. We also have this on our priority sheet for WDA Day at the Capitol and will talk about this with the new Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. We also have meetings next week with the prime sponsors of the bills.

Below you will see the full bill list that I am tracking. I have separated them into bills that impact dental and denturists directly, bills that impact general health care and health insurance, and then general business bills that would have impact on you as a business or employer. Let me know if you have specific questions or if you think WDA needs to make a certain bill a high priority with a specific position (if that does not exists yet).

Next Weeks Hearings

Here are next week’s hearings. If you want to weigh in on one of these bills, just click on the bill number and find the tab to submit comments or testify/sign in for the hearing.

Finance (House): HHR A and Virtual JLOB

February 4th at 8:00AM

HB 1016 - Public Hearing - Providing employer tax incentives for the support of veterans and military families. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)

Civil Rights & Judiciary (House): HHR A and Virtual JLOB

February 4th at 10:30AM

HB 1507 - Public Hearing - Limiting health care nondisclosure agreements. (Remote Testimony Available). (High)

Health & Long Term Care (Senate): SHR 4 and Virtual JACB

February 4th at 10:30AM

This is a good hearing to attend during the day at the capitol

SB 5254 - Public Hearing - Strengthening patients' rights regarding their health care information. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/High)

Submit Written Comments: How often are denturists asked for patient records and do you charge for those records?

SB 5561 - Public Hearing - Creating a health care entity registry. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/Medium) Sign in Opossed

SB 5579 - Public Hearing - Prohibiting health carriers, facilities, and providers from making any public statements of any potential or planned contract terminations unless it satisfies a legal obligation. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)

Labor & Commerce (Senate): SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg

February 4th at 10:30AM

SB 5626 - Public Hearing - Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance. (Remote Testimony Available). (Oppose/Low)

Health Care & Wellness (House): HHR A and Virtual JLOB

February 4th at 1:30PM

HB 1589 - Public Hearing - Concerning the relationships between health carriers and contracting providers. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)

Health Care & Wellness (House: HHR A and Virtual JLOB

February 5th at 1:30PM

HB 1566 - Public Hearing - Making improvements to transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)

Health & Long-Term Care (Senate): SHR 4 and Virtual JACB

February 6th at 8:00AM

SB 5568 - Public Hearing - Updating and modernizing the Washington state health plan. (Remote Testimony Available). (Medium)

Health & Long-Term Care (Senate): SHR 4 and Virtual JACB

February 7th at 8:00AM

SB 5387 - Public Hearing - Concerning the corporate practice of medicine. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/High). Need review for impact on denturist practices

SB 5395 - Public Hearing - Making improvements to transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Medium)

Health Care & Wellness (House): HHR A and Virtual JLOB

February 7th at 8:00AM

HB 1603 - Public Hearing - Requiring guaranteed issue of medicare supplemental coverage to an individual who voluntarily disenrolls from a medicare advantage plan and enrolls in medicare parts A and B. (Remote Testimony Available). (High)NEED REVIEW

HB 1639 - Public Hearing - Requiring entities offering medicare advantage coverage in Washington to provide certain disclosures to consumers. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/High) NEED REVIEW

Labor & Commerce (Senate): SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg

February 7th at 8:00AM

SB 5548 - Public Hearing - Concerning workers' compensation benefits. (Remote Testimony Available). (Concerns/Low)

Dental/Denturist Specific

Washington Denturist Association

5727 Baker Way, NW Suite 200 | Gig Harbor, WA 98332

253-579-817

wadenturist.com