Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight
Event Log
Annette Cleveland — Chair Cleveland is addressed as the committee chair in the witness introduction.
Annette Cleveland — Co-Chair Cleveland asks about how organ transport interfaces with air travel.
Annette Cleveland — Chair Cleveland is thanked for the opportunity to testify.
Annette Cleveland — Annette Cleveland participates in a continuous Q&A on organ donation policy. She first asks about transportation, then follows up by asking about common misconceptions, additional policies that could increase organ donation rates—especially in underserved communities—and whether there have been federal changes to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act that could affect Washington. The exchange ends with thanks to the committee chairs and presenters.
Annette Cleveland — Annette Cleveland thanked Dr. Demerakis for appearing and followed up on Representative Schmick's question by asking about Adriana's case, specifically how long it took from diagnosis to the actual transplants.
Dan Bronoske — The transcript repeatedly references Dan Bronoske during the committee opening and introductions, identifying him as the chair/co-chair of the joint committee and the representative for the 28th District. The mentions are all part of the same introductory acknowledgment sequence.
Dan Bronoske — Addressed as Co-Chair Bronoske.
Dan Bronoske — Referenced as Chair Bronoske in the panel introduction.
Dan Bronoske — Addressed as Chair Bronoske; likely intended to refer to Chair Bronoske.
Dan Bronoske — The speaker addresses the chair while yielding to a question.
Dan Bronoske — Addressed as Chair Bronoske in thanks to the committee leadership.
Marcus Riccelli — Introduced himself as a state senator from the 3rd District in Spokane.
Marcus Riccelli — Evan is told that Senator Riccelli had a question about a prior statement.
Joe Schmick — Introduced himself as a representative from the 9th District.
Joe Schmick — Representative Joe Schmick is introduced and then asks Secretary Warsham for an update on licensure delays and progress toward issuing licenses more quickly. The response acknowledges meeting him in Spokane and addresses his question about the delays.
Joe Schmick — Representative Joe Schmick followed up on the work requirements discussion by asking how much employer input would be required in the process and then expressing concern that the policy could add workload for small businesses.
Joe Schmick — Representative Schmick is identified as having a question about whether the program has had any issues or problems.
Joe Schmick — Asked how large the organization’s coverage area is.
Joe Schmick — Representative Joe Schmick asked how long the transplant process takes and followed up by asking how candidates are evaluated and how organs are matched and allocated among recipients. The later reference to his question builds on the same discussion about transplant timing and selection criteria.
Andrew Engell — Representative Andrew Engell of the 7th District was identified during the opening roll call/introductory sequence.
Paul Harris — Paul Harris is referenced in a brief sequence of remarks: first as a senator from the 17th District with ties to Vancouver, and then as part of upcoming district visits in Southwest Washington alongside Moran.
Paul Harris — Paul Harris asks whether Washington’s laws differ substantially from those in other states, whether the state is in line with them, and whether the process is being kept simple.
Dennis Worsham — Dennis Worsham is introduced as the Washington State Department of Health Secretary, then gives opening remarks about his background in public health and prior Washington state service, outlines a 100-day listening tour, and discusses Department of Health priorities and federal-state challenges, including impacts on WIC and licensing. He closes by inviting questions. He is then briefly referenced by others as a colleague, mentor, and collaboration partner.
Ryan Moran — Ryan Moran is introduced as the Director of the Health Care Authority and is referenced as a partner in state government work. He then begins his remarks, thanks the committee, and discusses collaboration with Secretary Worsham, including plans for upcoming visits in Southwest Washington. He also notes that he is new to Washington and to overseeing the Health Care Authority, while drawing on his background in health care financing and Medicaid delivery, including prior service in Maryland.
Speaker (Health Care Authority Director) — The Health Care Authority Director introduced their background in Maryland Medicaid, prior service as acting secretary of health, and earlier work in West Virginia, hospital operations, and health system leadership, explaining that losing health insurance as a teenager motivated a career focused on reducing barriers to care. They noted growing up in rural West Virginia and understanding rural health challenges, described academic work on the opioid epidemic and peer recovery specialists, and said they came to Washington because they admired the state’s health care work and the breadth of HCA’s responsibilities. They then framed this as a critical moment for the health care ecosystem and outlined initial priorities for HCA, including being responsive to Washingtonians’ needs and addressing concerns about HR1 while preserving coverage and access to health insurance.
Secretary Worsham — Responded that licensure processing has improved from about four months behind to six weeks behind.
Steve Conway — Not mentioned in this section; no clear member ID match. The text instead references an assistant secretary overseeing HSQA.
Steve Conway — Chair Bronoske is referenced as part of the panel.
Lisa Callan — Representative Lisa Callan was introduced as present for the next panel, then briefly addressed the committee by thanking Representative Frodowski, apologizing for being late, and expressing appreciation to Director Moran and Secretary Worsham before saying she was glad to be there.
Lisa Callan — Representative Lisa Callan asked about transplant selection criteria, specifically noting that mental illness appears on the list of contraindications and risk factors for poor outcomes, and sought clarification on whether it functions as an automatic disqualifier.
Caitlin Stafford — Introduced as a panelist from the Office of the Governor.
Trinity Wilson — Introduced as the interim Medicaid director from the Health Care Authority.
Trinity Wilson — Introduces herself as interim state Medicaid director with the Health Care Authority and frames the discussion around implementation planning.
Evan Klein — Introduced as the special assistant for legislative and policy affairs for the Health Care Authority.
Evan Klein — Identified himself as Special Assistant for Legislative and Policy Affairs at the Health Care Authority and explained that state statutes may need to align with federal changes in H.R. 1.
Caitlin Safford — Identified herself as the governor's senior health policy advisor and began context-setting on H.R. 1 implementation.
Trinity — The speaker defers to Trinity on implementation structures.
Trinity — The speaker says they will leave implementation structure discussion to Trinity.
Trinity — Praised as having great expertise on the implementation issue.
Trinity — Will discuss the key eligibility provisions, including work requirements and eligibility checks.
Trinity — Will provide the main discussion of the provisions affecting the expansion population.
Trinity — Introduced as the interim Medicaid director and thanked for leadership.
Trinity — Praised for leadership and experience in eligibility operations, provider enrollment, and IT.
Evan — Evan will provide an overview of the Rural Health Transformation Grant and discuss the related rural health transformation funding.
Caitlin — Referenced for a prior point about the timeline and waiver process.
Don Felt — Don Felt, the EMS program supervisor/manager from the Department of Health, is introduced and then states for the record his name and title before beginning an overview of the organ transport services law and related organ donation process. The committee later thanks him for coming down and providing the briefing.
Nicole Macri — Chair Cleveland is addressed, but the transcript appears to misstate the name as 'Chair Cleveland' and 'Co-Chair Cleveland'; likely referring to Chair Annette Cleveland.
Ashley Lind — Ashley Lind of LifeCenter Northwest is introduced as the next witness and then begins her testimony by identifying herself as the Director of External Affairs at LifeCenter Northwest, opening remarks on organ and tissue donation.
HB1637 — Identified as the bill through which Washington enacted the 2006 revised UAGA in 2008.
Eden Atward — Eden Atward is referenced twice as Ben Anderson’s mother, first as the source of a closing quote and then in a quote reflecting on Ben Anderson’s donation in spring 2024 and his legacy.