WashingtonState payments for rural emergency hospital care depend on funding
Since June 11, 2026, people receiving medical assistance at rural emergency hospitals can receive state payments for their care only when lawmakers provide money.
What it does
State medical assistance payments for care at rural emergency hospitals depend on lawmakers providing money, regardless of a patient's managed care enrollment.
Argument forTying these payments to money lawmakers provide could help the state manage spending on care at rural emergency hospitals.
Argument againstIf lawmakers do not provide money for these payments, rural emergency hospitals may have less certainty about state funding for medical assistance patients.
More detail
The state may pay for these services only when lawmakers provide money for them. It covers medical assistance recipients who receive services from a hospital designated by the federal government as a rural emergency hospital. Payment depends on money lawmakers provide for this purpose. The rule applies regardless of whether the patient is enrolled in managed care. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
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 18Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 18Chapter 112, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 18Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#28). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 27APP - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Feb 6First reading, referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#20). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 28Placed on second reading consent calendar.Minor
- Jan 23Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 22HLTC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Introduced
Healthcare