Mr. Lund — The chair thanked him and paused for questions before moving to the next panel.
Sarah Vannan Hasker — Named as the last panel to come before the committee.
Marissa — Referenced for raising the API systems topic earlier in the discussion.
Marissa — The chair introduces Marissa as the next in-person testifier, initially mistaking her for David Foster. Marissa then begins her testimony in opposition to SB 5916 on behalf of the Association of Washington Health Care Plans, noting that she is filling in and will do her best to channel Dave Foster.
Sarah Van Cesarie / Sarah Van Surrey (questionable) — Remote witness was introduced, but the name is unclear due to transcription inconsistency.
Sarah Van Surrey (questionable) — Sarah Van Surrey, a physician in eastern Washington with an independent practice, described persistent insurance claims-processing problems. She said carriers repeatedly request information she has already submitted, then claim they never received it, leading to months of back-and-forth before payment is finally issued, often after four to six months.
SB5916 — The committee opened the hearing on Senate Bill 5916, a bill concerning non-opioid drugs for pain treatment. Staff then briefed the committee on the bill’s main provisions, including restrictions beginning January 1, 2027, that would prevent health carriers, public employees, and Medicaid managed care organizations from maintaining prescription drug policies that discourage non-opioid drugs, as well as limits on utilization management practices such as prior authorization and step therapy. The discussion concluded with an invitation for the prime sponsor to speak to the bill.
SB5916 — The discussion centers on strong support for Senate Bill 5916. Witnesses explain that the bill addresses barriers to non-opioid pain treatment, helps patients in recovery or those avoiding opioids access safer pain management options, and prevents non-opioid treatments from being treated less favorably than opioids. It also requires the Department of Health to publish an educational pamphlet about non-opioid alternatives and their benefits. Additional testimony reinforces that the bill gives patients and providers a broader range of safe pain treatment choices. The chair then closes testimony and the hearing on SB 5916.
Greg Adonacio — Committee staff provided the briefing on SB 5916.
Paul Harris — Prime sponsor of SB 5916, identified as being from the 17th District.
Paul Harris — Spoke emotionally about his sister's death from opiate abuse and argued for more use of preferred alternatives and education.
Paul Harris — Acknowledged expected opposition based on cost and said the bill would affect preferred drug lists.
Paul Harris — Argued that opioid-related deaths justify valuing non-opioid alternatives and educating patients, even if they cost more.
Paul Harris — Thanked by the chair for advocating for his sister and presenting the bill.
Paul Harris — Evan Klein expresses support for Senator Harris and the bill's goal.
Paul Harris — Senator Harris asks how many states have adopted parity for this issue.
Paul Harris — Bateman references Harris's earlier comment about possible cost increases.
Paul Harris — Senator Paul Harris was thanked for co-sponsoring the bill.
Paul Harris — Named as the sponsor of SB 5915.
Sarah Tompkins — Sarah Tompkins, a Bellevue resident and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient and disability advocate, testified that earlier access to physical therapy when her symptoms began could have reduced her disability and opioid use, improved her quality of life, and shortened her diagnostic journey. She concluded by supporting pain parity legislation, saying it would help ensure access to non-opioid pain management by limiting barriers such as prior authorization and step therapy.
Gooseana Brasser — Listed as an in-person panel witness.
Evan Klein — Evan Klein, speaking for the Health Care Authority, states for the record that the agency is signed in other on the bill. In the ensuing discussion, he agrees to follow up with the number of states involved, estimating it may be around 21 or 22, and then notes the agency’s concerns about the bill’s potential fiscal implications and its breadth.
Billy O'Brien — Listed as a remote witness.
Billy O'Brien — Billy O'Brien, a program director with Young People in Recovery and a person in long-term recovery, testifies in support of SB 5916. He explains that the bill addresses a real problem for people in recovery who want to avoid opioids but still need effective pain treatment. Drawing on personal experiences, including surgery and other medical situations, he describes how patients who decline addictive medications can still face barriers to receiving appropriate care. He argues that non-opioid pain options should be accessible without unnecessary obstacles and urges the committee to support the bill so Washingtonians in recovery can access the full spectrum of pain treatments.
Karine Johnson — Listed as a remote witness.
Chanel Cordova — Listed as a remote witness.
Chanel Cordova — Chanel Cordova testifies in support of SB 5916 on behalf of the Northwest Rare Disease Coalition. She explains that she lives with psoriatic arthritis, a collagen 12 mutation, Crohn’s disease, and other health challenges, which limit her pain-treatment options because she cannot take NSAIDs and relies on blood thinners. She says her four-year-old son is also being pushed toward opioids as a treatment option, and she argues the bill is needed to ensure equitable pain care, prevent insurance-driven steering toward opioids, protect patients, and help curb the opioid crisis.
Giuseana Prosser — Giuseana Prosser introduces herself as Ms. Wheelchair Washington, USA and president of the Ray Living Foundation, thanks the committee, and explains that she is a rare disease patient supporting the bill. She describes how access to non-opioid pain treatments is difficult and often more restricted than opioid options, noting that insurance barriers affect her care and that better access would improve her function and reduce hospitalizations. She concludes by emphasizing that non-opioid pain treatments should not be penalized simply for being different.
SB5916 — Prosser refers to the bill as restoring fairness and protecting non-opioid pain treatment access.
SB5916 — SB 5916 is discussed in a brief, continuous segment of testimony. Supporters say the bill promotes patient-centered care, recovery, and equitable pain care, and urge the committee to move it forward. An opposing witness then testifies against the bill, arguing that it would remove tools such as prior authorization and step therapy that are used to manage pain medications safely and cost-effectively.
Corrine Johnson — The chair calls Corrine Johnson to testify, and Johnson begins her remarks in support of SB 5916, identifying herself as a person in long-term recovery and the director of advocacy for Young People in Recovery.
HB1034 — Marissa cites a similar House bill considered last year and says its fiscal note warned of cost increases.
SB6102 — The committee opened the hearing on Senate Bill 6102 and received a staff briefing explaining that the bill aligns the ambulance transport fund’s quality assurance fee with federal regulations and changes the structure of the ambulance transport quality assurance fee program. After the discussion and testimony concluded, the hearing on the bill was closed.
Mike Battis — Mike Battis was invited to testify and then identified himself as the president of the Washington Ambulance Association. He testified in support of the bill and explained that the QAF affects wages and benefits.
Marcus Riccelli — Senator Riccelli asked the association whether the sharp Spokane County rate increases—from about $1,500 to $5,000 per trip—were alarming or shocking, and then noted that the issue may warrant further review.
Marcus Riccelli — Asked for data on how many people are served along I-90, especially related to car collisions and emergency demand.
SB6103 — The committee opened the hearing on Senate Bill 6103, and staff introduced the bill as relating to rural emergency hospital payments under Medicaid. The briefing explained that payments for eligible Medicaid services provided by rural emergency hospitals would be subject to appropriation, with the bill intended to preserve cost-based reimbursement and support financially strained rural communities. Testimony described the bill as an important bridge for rural emergency hospitals, and the hearing concluded after testimony was completed.
Todd Nida — Todd Nida was called forward as part of the in-person panel and then introduced himself as CEO of East Adams Rural Health Care before testifying in support of Senate Bill 6103 and discussing the need for a Medicaid claim framework.
Lisa — Being invited to testify next.
SB6071 — The hearing on Senate Bill 6071 is opened and the bill is introduced as a measure to standardize overpayment recovery and refund-request timelines across services. The prime sponsor explains that the bill is intended to reduce uncertainty for providers by shortening the clawback period from two years to six months, and witnesses testify in support, emphasizing the bill’s importance to providers and urging passage.
Romney Epstein — The chair invites Romney Epstein to come up and testify.
Ariana Will — Ariana Will is invited to testify and then begins her testimony in support of Senate Bill 6071 on behalf of the Washington Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, introducing herself and her role.
Lessee Emmerich — Lessee Emmerich is mentioned as an invited witness to testify, with the spelling of the name noted as uncertain.
speaker not yet identified — Begins testimony and thanks senators for co-sponsoring the bill.
Leslie Ameriak — Leslie Ameriak testified in support of Senate Bill 6071 on behalf of multiple provider organizations, explaining support for standardizing statutory language to allow shorter reimbursement-claim time periods and extending that approach to all providers and in-home service agencies.
SB6071 — The hearing features extended testimony on SB 6071, largely in support of the bill’s proposal to shorten and standardize overpayment recovery or clawback timelines. Supporters argue that delayed recoupment demands can arrive months or even years later, creating financial burden, unpredictability, and added costs for providers and patients, while the bill would preserve recovery rights but impose reasonable, predictable limits such as a six-month window. One speaker raises opposition, citing the longstanding federal 24-month standard and arguing the bill does not preserve the reciprocal framework for payment adjustments. The discussion concludes with additional strong support for SB 6071 and the formal closing of testimony.
Arianna Will — Testified in support of SB 6071 on behalf of AMTA and described her small business practice and billing workflow.
Rami Epstein — Rami Epstein, a Tacoma acupuncturist testifying remotely in support of SB 6071, explains that delayed billing notices and long takebacks can arrive a year or even two years after a visit, which harms patient trust, creates stress for a small office, and threatens small-practice revenue.
Somer Smith — Somer Smith, executive director of the Washington State Podiatric Medical Association, begins remote testimony and explains that she is testifying on behalf of Dr. Joseph Hall, then reads his testimony in support of SB 6071.
Saravan Khathari — The chair notes that this remote participant is no longer connected.