B. Rector — B. Rector is introduced and identified as the Assistant Secretary of the Home and Community Living Administration at the Department of Social and Health Services, and then Rector briefly confirms that role in their own testimony.
Aidan Swain — Identified as Government Relations Coordinator with the Washington Health Care Association.
Aidan Swain — Introduces himself as government relations coordinator at the Washington Health Care Association and begins testimony.
Vandana Slatter — Senator Vandana Slatter follows up after the presentation with questions about workforce pathways, specifically asking how the roles of RNs and LPNs fit into those pathways and what role the Nursing Commission plays.
Vandana Slatter — Senator Slatter raised broader concerns about transparency and data collection, noting that such discussions often lead to larger questions that may not be answerable by the tools being discussed. The response then addressed the senator’s question by explaining where the data sets are going and how they relate to outcomes.
Vandana Slatter — Introduced herself as representing the 48th Legislative District, including parts of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and the point communities.
Assistant Secretary Rector — Rector concludes the presentation and offers to answer questions.
Paul Harris — Senator Harris is introduced as the next questioner and then asks how Washington compares nationally, using Idaho as a comparison point.
Annette Cleveland — The chair closes questions and invites the next witness.
Annette Cleveland — Addressed as Chair Cleveland by the witness.
Annette Cleveland — Addressed Catherine Smith and introduced her as the final panel presenter.
Annette Cleveland — Chair Cleveland was thanked and addressed at the start of the palliative care report presentation.
Marcus Riccelli — Likely the senator referred to as 'Senator Rochelli' asking about workforce turnover numbers.
Marcus Riccelli — Referenced as having made a point about retention.
Marcus Riccelli — Senator Riccelli asked about how health homes fit into the discussion and whether existing care coordination could help, and was later referenced again in connection with questions about palliative care in Medicaid and health homes.
Marcus Riccelli — Senator Marcus Riccelli asks whether the state can do more to help people prepare for cash pricing and high deductibles, including whether there are trends or tools that could improve pricing transparency for consumers facing very high deductibles. Shortly afterward, the chair introduces him and Riccelli identifies himself as representing the Third Legislative District in Spokane, including Felts Field.
Mr. Swain — Praised by the chair for providing information and then invited to answer questions.
Maddie Fouch — Maddie Fouch is introduced as Director of Public Affairs with SEIU 775, then she introduces herself and explains that she is there to speak from the workforce perspective.
Catherine Smith — Introduced as Director of Compliance with Behavioral Health Solutions and one of the last two presenters.
Catherine Smith — Catherine Smith introduced herself as the Director of Compliance for Behavioral Health Solutions and said she has been with BHS for five years. She added that before BHS, she spent 32 years in nursing home administration and management, providing background relevant to her work on behavioral health staffing needs in nursing homes.
B — Maddie references B as a prior speaker whose information she is building on, then cites B again to support the point that there are over 115,000 people doing direct care.
Aden — Referenced as a prior speaker whose information Maddie would build on.
Leonard Christian — Leonard Christian asked how Washington State ranks nationally in pay and benefits, then followed up by questioning why additional funding is needed if the state is already ranked number one and asking what other states are doing differently.
Leonard Christian — Described his own experience comparing eye care and dental care and asked about rating care options for consumers.
Leonard Christian — Asked whether there are conversations about creating simple ratings for care options and hospitals so consumers can make quick comparisons.
Leonard Christian — Introduced himself as Senator Leonard Christian from the Fourth District, east of Spokane.
Behavioral Health Solutions (BHS) — Behavioral Health Solutions (BHS) described how changing long-term care demographics are increasing behavioral health needs in nursing homes and explained that BHS works in partnership with nursing homes to address those needs.
Dr. David Mancuso — Identified as the Director of Research and Analytics at DSHS, evaluating Washington data on the program.
Tina Orwall — Asked how many facilities or beds are part of the new enhanced behavioral health component.
Tina Orwall — Tina Orwall is introduced as the vice chair and then introduces herself as representing the 33rd Legislative District in South King County.
Nico Jansen — Introduced himself as a senior health policy analyst with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and began discussing the palliative care benefit work group report.
Jane Beyer — Identified as a senior health policy advisor with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and available for questions.
Ron Muzzall — Addressed by the witness as a committee member present for the presentation.
Ron Muzzall — Identified as the sponsor of Senate Bill 5493; likely a transcription error for Senator Ron Muzzall? Unclear from context, so preserved as spoken/questionable.
Ron Muzzall — Introduced himself as representing Legislative District 10.
SB5936 — Senate Bill 5936 is discussed as the 2024 law that directed the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Health Care Authority to convene the palliative care work group, and it is also noted as the bill that provides the definition of palliative care used in the work group's discussion.
June Robinson — Asked whether other states have the benefit and whether Medicare has a palliative care benefit.
June Robinson — Senator Robinson raised a question to the presenter about whether any self-insured employer plans voluntarily provide their data to the APCD, following up on the point that states are prohibited from compelling such reporting.
June Robinson — Senator Robinson was recognized to ask about the role of AI in health care price transparency and data use.
June Robinson — Senator June Robinson is referenced in a brief sequence where the chair first alludes to her prior comments, then turns to her, and she introduces herself as representing the 38th Legislative District.
Evan Klein — Evan Klein is introduced and identifies himself for the record as a special assistant for legislative and policy affairs with the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Vishal Shadri — Introduced as the chief data officer with the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Michelle Chaudry — Identified as the chief data officer joining the presentation.
SB5493 — Recognized as legislation passed earlier this year addressing hospital price transparency.
Jeff Holy — Introduced himself as from the 6th District, west side of Spokane County.
Jessica Bateman — The chair called on Senator Jessica Bateman, who then introduced herself as the State Senator for the 22nd Legislative District, representing Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater.