WashingtonReservation rural hospitals receive higher medical assistance payments
Starting January 1, 2027, reservation-based rural hospitals receive payments at 150 percent of the fee-for-service rate for eligible patients’ hospital care.
What it does
Rural hospitals on federally recognized reservations qualify for payments at 150 percent of the fee-for-service rate for eligible patients’ inpatient and outpatient care, regardless of managed care enrollment. Psychiatric unit beds are excluded.
Argument forThe higher payment rate could give reservation-based rural hospitals more support for inpatient and outpatient care for eligible patients.
Argument againstHospitals may still receive less support for inpatient care in psychiatric unit beds, which the higher payment rate excludes.
More detail
The law sets payments for covered hospital care at 150 percent of the fee-for-service rate. This applies to any rural hospital on a federally recognized Indian reservation, regardless of the patient's managed care enrollment. The patient must qualify for a medical assistance program. Psychiatric unit beds are excluded. The payment rule begins January 1, 2027, and expires January 1, 2029.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 20Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 20Chapter 124, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 20Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 11President signed.Passed House
- Mar 10Passed final passage; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#28). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#4). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 27APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 17Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 17Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#15). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 13Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 131st substitute bill substituted (WM 26).Major
- Feb 10Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 9Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 9WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 3Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 23Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 22And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 22HLTC - Majority; without recommendation.
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Introduced
Healthcare