WashingtonWashington health department provides conditional abortion care grants
Washington's health department provides abortion care grants to eligible organizations when money is appropriated, including support for people who cannot use their insurance.
What it does
The health department provides grants to eligible organizations for abortion care for people without enough resources. The department may award grants only when money is appropriated for the program.
Health carriers pay an annual assessment into the abortion savings account. It is $0.82 per coverage month for the first assessment year and $0.165 per month in later years.
The health department generally may not disclose identifying details about grant-funded providers or collect them from people seeking supported care. An exception applies when the information is needed to run the program.
Argument forGrants could help people without enough abortion coverage get care through eligible providers, including independent providers serving medically underserved areas.
Argument againstCarriers could pass the assessment on to customers if the insurance commissioner finds that keeping it with carriers risks insolvency or consumer harm.
More detail
The state health department provides grants to eligible organizations for abortion care. Eligible organizations include certain abortion providers and funds, Indian health care providers, and independent practitioners or other entities serving uninsured or underinsured patients in medically underserved areas. Grants depend on money being appropriated for this purpose. At least 85 percent of the money appropriated for the program must go to grants. The account may be spent only after an appropriation.
Health carriers pay an annual assessment into the abortion savings account. The assessment covers health carriers offering plans on Washington's health benefit exchange beginning in plan year 2026, except carriers offering only dental or vision plans. Carriers must report coverage months and pay the assessment; late payments bring penalties and interest. Carriers must bear the assessment unless the insurance commissioner finds that barring pass-through would create a significant risk of carrier insolvency or consumer harm. The first assessment, based on coverage months in 2026, is due by March 1, 2027. Later assessments are due by March 1 each year.
The health department limits collection and disclosure of identifying information tied to grant-supported abortion care. The limits cover staff and practitioners at organizations applying for or receiving grants or reimbursement, and people seeking or receiving support from grant-funded organizations. The department may collect or disclose identifying information only when required to operate the program. The information is not open to public inspection or copying.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Effective date 6/11/2026*.Latest
- Mar 25Chapter 228, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 25Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 13Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 12President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 36; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#40). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 9Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Mar 9Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 9APP - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Mar 9Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 8:00 AM.
- Mar 5Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 8:00 AM.
- Mar 3First reading, referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 28Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#23). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 28Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 282nd substitute bill substituted (WM 26).Major
- Feb 12Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 9Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 9Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 9Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 9WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 6Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 4Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 3Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 3Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 3And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 3HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 3Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 29Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 27Public hearing scheduled, but not heard in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Introduced
HealthcareReproductive Rights