Dina Hannon — Dina Hannon, vice president of case management and chief nursing executive for ambulatory nursing at MultiCare Health System, testified in support of SB 5124. She explained that the lack of network adequacy standards for post-acute care in Medicaid MCOs forces hospitals into single-case agreements, creating delays in discharge planning and patient movement through the care continuum. She described how these gaps lead to backlogs, ED boarding, and patients remaining in hospital beds longer than necessary while staff identify willing SNFs or rehab facilities, secure insurer approval, and complete single-case agreements. She concluded that patients may have to go outside their community to find a facility that can accept them and that the bill would help address one part of this lengthy process.
SB5594 — The committee returned to SB 5594, and testimony was given in strong support of the bill. The discussion emphasized that the measure would allow pharmacists to proactively substitute interchangeable or therapeutically equivalent drugs, helping consumers access savings at the pharmacy counter. It was also noted that the bill had been carefully reviewed in the prior year.
Marissa Ingalls — Marissa Ingalls testified in strong support of SB 5594 on behalf of the Association of Washington Health Care Plans. She explained that recent FDA reforms are intended to speed biosimilar approvals and emphasized that biosimilars are safe, FDA-approved, lower-cost alternatives to biologic drugs. She noted that the bill would not require new state funding or new programs, and said the language had already been carefully negotiated with interested parties. The exchange also included a question about why Washington has not moved forward previously, though the witness did not know the full historical answer. She closed by urging support for SB 5594.
Chris Bandley — Chris Bandley, speaking for America's Health Insurance Plans, testified in strong support of SB 5594. He said Washington has a long history of encouraging the lowest-cost prescription drugs and that this bill continues that effort in the newer area of biologics and biosimilars. He argued the measure would help move patients to safe, FDA-approved, lower-cost biosimilars and interchangeable biologics, saving consumers money. He acknowledged there may be remaining stakeholder concerns but said they can be worked through, and he urged the committee to support the bill. He also noted that the issue had been heavily negotiated when originally placed into statute and expressed uncertainty about why Washington had not moved forward sooner.
SB5594 — Supported by Chris Bandley for the same reasons as the prior witness.
Aaron Jajik — Testified on behalf of the Patient Coalition of Washington and said the coalition opposes the bill due to implementation concerns, not the bill's goal.
Matt Marshall — Representative Marshall raises questions about whether the bill could treat biosimilar substitutions similarly to generic substitutions, whether the issue is really one of contracting, and asks the witness to email any proposed changes or language that could address the concern.
Brett Michelin — Brett Michelin testifies on behalf of the Association for Accessible Medicines.
Joe Schmick — Representative Schmick asked a clarification question about prescriber control over substitution.
Chris Blake — Committee staff presented the staff report on ESB 5142.
SB5142 — Bill relating to Medicaid network adequacy requirements for post-acute care services.
Katie Colan — Katie Colan testified in strong support of SB 5124, explaining that the bill would improve access to timely post-acute rehabilitation care. She argued that keeping patients stuck in the hospital is harmful and that moving them to a more appropriate facility sooner leads to better health outcomes. She also noted that, under current practice, single-case agreements are used to make these transfers happen, but they create costly and unpredictable barriers. She concluded by urging the committee to move the bill out of committee.
SB5124 — Senate Bill 5124 is discussed throughout a single public testimony segment. The bill is introduced as legislation supporting predictable and timely post-acute care access. A witness testifies in support, noting the issue was heard last year and the underlying problem remains. The testimony explains that the bill would help address one part of the lengthy process of moving patients through the care continuum, particularly discharge and placement delays. The segment concludes with the announcement that public testimony on SB 5124 has wrapped up.
Kim Weidener — Committee staff presented the staff report on E2SSB 5594.
SB5594 — Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5594 is discussed as a biosimilars bill that expands substitution-related provisions to include biosimilars, allows health carriers to require patients to try a biosimilar, and removes certain prescription instruction requirements tied to substitution and patient cost provisions.