Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight
Event Log
Secretary Ramirez — The chair directly addressed Secretary Ramirez, thanked her for her presentation, praised her experience and humor, and then invited members to ask questions.
Steve Conway — Expressed appreciation and emphasized the importance of relationships in making the place function properly.
Steve Conway — The chair noted that Senator Steve Conway had joined the meeting virtually and asked if he could hear. Senator Conway then introduced himself, identified his district, and explained he was participating remotely due to family health care concerns while noting his long involvement in health care issues. The chair thanked him for joining and wished him well regarding those health care matters.
Caitlin Safford — Caitlin Safford was introduced as Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of Governor Ferguson and then introduced herself to the committee, explaining that she serves as the governor’s senior policy advisor for public health, health care, behavioral health, and Medicaid.
Dennis Worsham — Dennis Worsham is introduced as the Secretary of Health and a panel member, and the discussion is then turned over to him to explain what the West Coast Health Alliance is doing.
Dr. Tai Kwanget — Introduced as the state health officer with the Department of Health.
Dr. Kwanget — Addressed by Caitlin Safford when discussing the bird flu example and the handoff to the Department of Health.
Secretary Worsham — Provided brief introductory remarks and handed off to Tau for the substantive presentation.
Tau — Identified as the person who would walk through the substance of the presentation next.
Annette Cleveland — Addressed as Chair Cleveland at the start of the substantive presentation.
Annette Cleveland — Senator Annette Cleveland was referenced as having asked for a brief history of health care reform and a review of federal impacts, with the discussion repeating and reinforcing that same request across the segment.
Ingrid Ulrey — Ingrid Ulrey was introduced as the chief executive officer of the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange and then identified herself as CEO of the Exchange, noting she was joined by the government affairs director and would address federal changes, open enrollment, and customer support.
Shirley Prasad — Identified as the Exchange's Government Affairs Director and part of the presentation team.
Shirley Prasad — The speaker turns the presentation over to Shirley Prasad, and the chair immediately tells Shirley to go right ahead, confirming that she should continue speaking.
Shirley Prasad — Shirley is referenced as having forecast additional changes ahead.
Ed — Ed from Battleground in Clark County testified about the burden of sharply rising health insurance premiums and related medical costs for his family. He described being hospitalized, facing significant charges and deductibles, and expressed concern about federal changes affecting coverage, concluding with a plea for action to help address the problem.
Ed — Used as an example of a customer facing major premium increases.
Ingrid — Ingrid is being handed the presentation and then summarizes that state mitigation measures are holding things steady for many customers in plan year 2026.
Ingrid — Referenced as having also mentioned impacts for immigrant populations.
Ingrid — Referenced again in connection with immigrant populations and coverage losses.
Ingrid — Referenced as having mentioned the end of the enhanced premium tax credits.
Ingrid — Referenced as having already discussed the concern about fewer people being covered.
Shirley — Referenced as having explained that the full enrollment picture will not be clear until later.
Michelle Needham — Michelle Needham, the chief policy officer for the Washington State Health Care Authority, is introduced and then introduces herself, framing her remarks as a presentation on the history of Washington health reform efforts.
Jane Beyer — Jane Beyer, the senior health policy advisor with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, is introduced and welcomed to the panel, then begins her presentation by explaining that insurers filed two sets of rates depending on whether enhanced premium tax credits continue.
Michelle — Said the team would continue focusing on administrative simplification opportunities and making programs simpler for providers, carriers, and participating businesses.
Jane — Referenced as having previously noted the need to simplify programs for providers, carriers, and businesses.
Jane — Referenced as having previously discussed business oversight models.
Jane — Asked to revisit the slide and clarify the three policy areas previously highlighted.
Lisa Callan — Introduced herself as being present.
Marcus Riccelli — Introduced himself as being present; transcription corrected from 'Senator Marks, Ritchelli'.
Marcus Riccelli — Representative Riccelli asks a series of related questions following the H.R. 1 update, first inquiring whether the work is being coordinated with other efforts and whether it will be incorporated later, and then following up to ask whether technology investment requests are being clearly communicated.
Marcus Riccelli — Raised concerns about network adequacy, wait times, and the need for insured people to actually be able to see providers.
Angela Ramirez — Angela Ramirez introduces herself as the new secretary of DSHS and gives an extended background on her career in public service, including work with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels, service in the state legislature, the Biden transition team, White House legislative affairs, and HHS. She shares personal background about growing up in Sacramento as the daughter of farm workers, the influence of her parents, and her move from comedy writing back into public service. She explains that collaboration, relationships, and strategic partnership are central to her leadership style, and she emphasizes that her priorities at DSHS should align with the governor’s goals, committee input, and the needs of customers and communities. She closes by stressing urgency around implementation timelines and her desire for a two-way, collaborative relationship with legislators.
Dan Bronoske — Introduced as co-chair and identified as being present.
Andrew Engell — Introduced himself as being present.
Joe Schmick — Introduced himself as being present.
Joe Schmick — Representative Schmick asks for an explanation of the rates for people under the 15,650 threshold.
Nicole Macri — Introduced herself as being present.
Nicole Macri — Representative Nicole Macri asks for enrollment numbers broken down by income band and thanks the presenters, including Ingrid, for the presentation.
Nicole Macri — Representative Macri is called on and then asks about carrier exits, new entrants, and what those trends indicate about the Washington market.
Nicole Macri — Representative Macri asks about ex parte information and whether the legislature can do anything to help, specifically whether it can assist HCA in obtaining information from higher education institutions.