Washington 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 8 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 1359 — Concerning notice of charity care availability at time of billing and collection.

Last action — Referred to Health Care & Wellness.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to House Bill 1359 introduced a new requirement for hospitals to include a prominent notice on billing statements, informing patients that they may qualify for discounts based on their income. This notice must be in a larger, bold font and translated into multiple languages, including Spanish. This change is important because it aims to increase awareness of financial assistance options for patients who may struggle to pay their hospital bills, thereby reducing financial burdens and improving access to necessary medical care.

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H-1722.1SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1359State of Washington65th Legislature2017 Regular SessionBy House Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Jinkins, Harris, Macri, Kilduff, Riccelli, Cody, Slatter, Appleton, Kloba, Frame, and Doglio)READ FIRST TIME 02/13/17.AN ACT Relating to notice of charity care availability at time of billing and collection;
H-0803.1HOUSE BILL 1359State of Washington65th Legislature2017 Regular SessionBy Representatives Jinkins, Harris, Macri, Kilduff, Riccelli, Cody, Slatter, Appleton, Kloba, Frame, and DoglioRead first time 01/18/17.
Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.AN ACT Relating to notice of charity care availability at time of billing and collection;
Persons who may be eligible for charity care shall be notified by the hospital.(6) All hospital billing statements must include the following statement in English and the non-English language most commonly spoken by the non-English speaking or limited-English speaking population in the hospital's service area:You may qualify for a discount for some or all of your hospital bill, whether or not you have insurance.
Persons who may be eligible for charity care shall be notified by the hospital.(6) All billing statements and other written communications concerning billing or collection of a hospital bill shall include a statement prominently set out at the beginning of the document, in at least twelve-point font, and with bold font as indicated, which shall be translated into both English and Spanish, and other languages and alternative formats when the need is reasonably known:Depending on income, you may qualify for a discount for some or all of your hospital bill.
Please contact our financial assistance office at .
Contact the hospital now and ask for a charity care application.(7) All oral communications, including telephonic messages, concerning billing or collection of a hospital bill shall include the statement set forth in subsection (6) of this section translated into both English and Spanish, and other languages and alternative formats when the need is reasonably known.(8) Each hospital shall make every reasonable effort to determine the existence or nonexistence of private or public sponsorship which might cover in full or part the charges for care rendered by the hospital to a patient;
.(7) Each hospital shall make every reasonable effort to determine the existence or nonexistence of private or public sponsorship which might cover in full or part the charges for care rendered by the hospital to a patient;
An initial determination of sponsorship status shall precede collection efforts directed at the patient.(((7))) (8) The department shall monitor the distribution of charity care among hospitals, with reference to factors such as relative need for charity care in hospital service areas and trends in private and public health coverage.
An initial determination of sponsorship status shall precede collection efforts directed at the patient.(((7))) (9) The department shall monitor the distribution of charity care among hospitals, with reference to factors such as relative need for charity care in hospital service areas and trends in private and public health coverage.
The report shall include an assessment of the effects of the provisions of this chapter on access to hospital and health care services, as well as an evaluation of the contribution of all purchasers of care to hospital charity care.(((8))) (9) The department shall issue a report on the subjects addressed in this section at least annually, with the first report due on July 1, 1990.NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  This act takes effect October 1, 2017.--- END ---
The report shall include an assessment of the effects of the provisions of this chapter on access to hospital and health care services, as well as an evaluation of the contribution of all purchasers of care to hospital charity care.(((8))) (10) The department shall issue a report on the subjects addressed in this section at least annually, with the first report due on July 1, 1990.NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  This act takes effect October 1, 2017.--- END ---
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Action History

  1. Referred to Health Care & Wellness.

  2. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.

  3. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  4. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  5. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  6. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  7. By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.

  8. Referred to Ways & Means.

  9. Minority; without recommendation.

  10. And refer to Ways & Means.

  11. HLTH - Majority; do pass.

  12. First reading, referred to Health Care.

  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  15. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

  16. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  17. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  18. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  19. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  20. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  21. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  22. Minority; without recommendation.

  23. Minority; do not pass.

  24. APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Health Care & Wellness.

  25. Minority; without recommendation.

  26. Minority; do not pass.

  27. APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Health Care & Wellness.

  28. Referred to Appropriations.

  29. Referred to Appropriations.

  30. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  31. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  32. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 140 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (10)

Not signed on (140)

140 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage (#11)

Passed 98 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 52000
Democrat 32000
Republican 14000
Total 98000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Appleton — Yea
Blake — Yea
Chandler — Yea
Cody — Yea
Dolan — Yea
Farrell — Yea
Graves — Yea
Haler — Yea
Harmsworth — Yea
Hayes — Yea
Hudgins — Yea
Irwin — Yea
Jenkin — Yea
Kagi — Yea
Lytton — Yea
Muri — Yea
Nealey — Yea
Pettigrew — Yea
Pike — Yea
Rodne — Yea
Sawyer — Yea
Sells — Yea
Shea — Yea
Hargrove — Yea
Buys — Yea
Chopp — Yea
Clibborn — Yea
Condotta — Yea
DeBolt — Yea
Johnson — Yea
Smith — Yea
Kirby — Yea
Klippert — Yea
Koster — Yea
Kraft — Yea
Kretz — Yea
Kristiansen — Yea
Manweller — Yea
Maycumber — Yea
McBride — Yea
McCaslin — Yea
McDonald — Yea
Morris — Yea
Mosbrucker — Yea
Pellicciotti — Yea
Stambaugh — Yea
Sullivan — Yea
Tarleton — Yea
Vick — Yea
Wilcox — Yea
Young — Yea
Van Werven — Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Chris Kilduff Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Jamila Taylor Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Yea
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tana Senn Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Michelle Valdez Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea

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Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1359?
HB 1359 is sponsored by Beth Doglio (Democrat), Noel Frame (Democrat), Laurie Jinkins (Democrat), Shelley Kloba (Democrat), Marcus Riccelli (Democrat), Appleton, Cody, Paul Harris (Republican), Nicole Macri (Democrat), Vandana Slatter (Democrat), and Chris Kilduff (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 1359?
This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 1359?
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