Who sponsors SB 5546?

SB 5546 is sponsored by Victoria Hunt (Democrat), Joe Nguyen (Democrat), Claire Wilson (Democrat), Derek Stanford (Democrat), Randall, Jamie Pedersen (Democrat), John Lovick (Democrat), Bob Hasegawa (Democrat), Frockt, Steve Conway (Democrat), Annette Cleveland (Democrat), Keiser, and Van De Wege.

Where can I track SB 5546?

Track SB 5546 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Washington 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: Enacted 9 D cosponsors

SB 5546 — Concerning insulin affordability.

Last action December 16, 2022 — Prefiled for introduction.

✓
Introduced
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In Committee
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Passed Senate
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Passed House
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To Executive
6
Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2022. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

Enacted

Current position in the legislative process.
13 sponsors

1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.
Single-party support

Sponsorship is currently within one party (9 D).
Cleared a recorded vote

Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 13 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 5546 adds a new work group focused on insulin affordability, which will include representatives from various health-related organizations and insurers. This change aims to create a more collaborative approach to tackle the rising costs of insulin by involving multiple stakeholders in the decision-making process. It matters because it emphasizes a coordinated effort to address this critical issue, potentially leading to more effective solutions for people who rely on insulin.

~~S-3843.1~~S-3314.1 ~~SUBSTITUTE~~ SENATE BILL 5546 State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session By ~~Senate~~ ~~Health~~ & ~~Long~~ ~~Term~~ ~~Care~~ ~~(originally~~ ~~sponsored~~ by Senators Keiser, Van De Wege, Cleveland, Conway, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hunt, Lovick, Nguyen, Pedersen, Randall, Stanford, and C.

~~Wilson)~~Wilson ~~READ~~Prefiled ~~FIRST~~12/16/21. ~~TIME~~ ~~01/25/22.~~

Read first time 01/10/22.

Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

amending RCW ~~41.05.017;~~41.05.017 and 70.14.160;

and providing an expiration ~~date.~~dates.

1 ~~SSB~~SB 5546 carrier must establish the plan's cost sharing for the coverage of prescription insulin for diabetes at the minimum level necessary to preserve the enrollee's ability to claim tax exempt contributions from his or her health savings account under internal revenue service laws and regulations.

~~NEW SECTION.~~

RCW 70.14.160 and 2020 c 346 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The total cost of insulin work group is established.

The work group membership must consist of the insurance commissioner or designee and the following members appointed by the governor:

(a) A representative from the prescription drug purchasing consortium described in RCW 70.14.060;

(b) A representative from the pharmacy quality assurance commission;

(d) A representative from an association representing chain pharmacies;

(e) A representative from each health carrier offering at least one health plan in a commercial market in the state;

(f) A representative from each health carrier offering at least one health plan to state or public school employees in the state;

(g) A representative from an association representing health carriers;

2 SB 5546 (h) A representative from the public employees' benefits board or the school employees' benefits board;

(i) A representative from the health care authority;

(j) A representative from a pharmacy benefit manager that contracts with state purchasers;

(k) A representative from a drug distributor or wholesaler that distributes or sells insulin in the state;

(l) A representative from a state agency that purchases health care services and drugs for a selected population;

(m) A representative from the attorney general's office with expertise in prescription drug purchasing;

and (n) A representative from an organization representing diabetes patients who is living with diabetes.

(2) The work group must review and design strategies to ((reduce)):

(a) Reduce the cost of and total expenditures on insulin in this state.

Strategies the work group must consider include, but are not limited to, a state agency becoming a licensed drug wholesaler, a state agency becoming a registered pharmacy benefit manager, and a state agency purchasing prescription drugs on behalf of the state directly from other states or in coordination with other states;

and (b) Provide a once yearly 30-day supply of insulin to individuals on an emergency basis.

The strategies identified by the work group must include recommendations on eligibility criteria, patient access, program monitoring, and pharmacy reimbursement, if applicable.

(3) Staff support for the work group shall be provided by the health care authority.

(4) By December 1, ((2020)) 2022, the work group must submit a preliminary report detailing strategies to reduce the cost of and total expenditures on insulin for patients, health carriers, payers, and the state.

The work group must submit a final report by July 1, ((2021)) 2023, to the governor and the legislature.

The final report must include any statutory changes necessary to implement the strategies.

(5) This section expires December 1, ((2022)) 2023.

NEW SECTION.

Sec.

23 ~~SSB~~SB 5546

Latest

~~S-3843.1~~ ~~SUBSTITUTE~~ SENATE BILL 5546 State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session By ~~Senate~~ ~~Health~~ & ~~Long~~ ~~Term~~ ~~Care~~ ~~(originally~~ ~~sponsored~~ by Senators Keiser, Van De Wege, Cleveland, Conway, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hunt, Lovick, Nguyen, Pedersen, Randall, Stanford, and C.

S-3314.1 SENATE BILL 5546 State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session By Senators Keiser, Van De Wege, Cleveland, Conway, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hunt, Lovick, Nguyen, Pedersen, Randall, Stanford, and C.

~~Wilson)~~ ~~READ~~ ~~FIRST~~ ~~TIME~~ ~~01/25/22.~~

Wilson Prefiled 12/16/21.

Read first time 01/10/22.

Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

amending RCW ~~41.05.017;~~

amending RCW 41.05.017 and 70.14.160;

and providing an expiration ~~date.~~

and providing expiration dates.

1 ~~SSB~~ 5546 carrier must establish the plan's cost sharing for the coverage of prescription insulin for diabetes at the minimum level necessary to preserve the enrollee's ability to claim tax exempt contributions from his or her health savings account under internal revenue service laws and regulations.

1 SB 5546 carrier must establish the plan's cost sharing for the coverage of prescription insulin for diabetes at the minimum level necessary to preserve the enrollee's ability to claim tax exempt contributions from his or her health savings account under internal revenue service laws and regulations.