HB1545 — Referenced as last year's bill that would have created a cardiac and stroke data registry.
Herbie Duber — Testifies in strong support of House Bill 2232 and describes professional background.
SB5821 — Referenced as the 2022 law that mandated research assessing the current cardiac and stroke system.
Sharon Shewmake — Ranking Member Shemak asked for clarification about what was meant by "location" and how it affects survival outcomes during the discussion.
Karen Ketner — Karen Ketner, an emergency nurse and government affairs co-chair representing the Washington State Emergency Nurses Association, introduced herself and testified on behalf of emergency nurses.
Dr. Buck / Cameron Buck — The chair called on Dr. Buck to testify next.
HB2232 — House Bill 2232 is introduced as legislation to establish a time-sensitive emergency data repository and strengthen Washington’s emergency care system by expanding the existing cardiac and stroke framework. Witnesses and supporters testify in favor of the bill, describing it as creating a robust, coordinated statewide data collection and analysis system for time-sensitive emergencies that would improve quality, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and patient outcomes across hospitals, EMS agencies, and regional partners. Supporters emphasize that the bill would help ensure timely, high-quality emergency care and better survival outcomes, and the public testimony concludes with the hearing on the bill being closed.
Mallory Tomen — Testifies on behalf of the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians in support of House Bill 2232.
Judy Warnick — Acknowledged by the prime sponsor.
Kelly Camp — Kelly Camp is introduced as the first remote panel witness and then begins her testimony, identifying herself as the president of the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and speaking in support of the bill.
D-Bender — Named as the next remote panel witness to testify; likely a transcription error or partial name.
Javier Valdez — Thanked as a co-sponsor of the bill.
Javier Valdez — Asks the witness to walk through how the bill affects an undocumented patient who cannot pay.
D — Next witness is called as 'D'; likely an incomplete or truncated name.
DeBinder — Vice president of the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and Snohomish County hospital commissioner, speaking on behalf of WANA.
Amy Brackenberry — Testifies on behalf of the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists in support of House Bill 1812.
HB2250 — The committee moves to House Bill 2250, which would establish residency requirements for hospital charity care. Staff explains that the bill sets out residency criteria that are nearly identical to Medicaid residency rules, and a witness later asks the committee to support the bill as a restoration of historical charity care standards.
HB2250 — The witness continued opposing House Bill 2250, arguing that it conflicts with Washington's values, creates residency barriers to charity care, and should not be passed. The testimony on the bill then concluded with public testimony closed.
Chris Blake — Committee staff provides the staff report on House Bill 2250.
Andrew Engell — Andrew Engell, the prime sponsor, explains that the bill was prompted by charity care concerns raised by Pend Oreille County and Newport Hospital, notes that the issue affects hospitals across the state but has hit Newport Hospital especially hard, and says he is working with the Department of Health on amendments to address potential unintended consequences while preserving emergency care protections and prioritizing charity care for state residents.
Robert Rosencrantz — Robert Rosencrantz testifies in support of House Bill 2250 and explains that Pend Oreille County is a small, frontier, economically distressed rural county with about 14,000 residents, no stoplights, and only one critical access hospital, Newport Hospital, underscoring the county's vulnerability and the importance of the bill.
Justin Peters — Justin Peters is introduced and then testifies in support of HB 2250 as CFO of Newport Hospital and Health Services. He explains that while the hospital supports providing care regardless of ability to pay, the current charity care framework places an unsustainable burden on border and rural hospitals. He cites a 427% increase in non-emergent charity care and argues that the bill would restore reasonable geographic boundaries while preserving emergency care. In follow-up discussion, his Newport Hospital data is referenced as evidence of broader trends, and he confirms that Newport anticipates worsening uncompensated care if neighboring states roll back Medicaid expansion.
Lisa Thatcher — Lisa Thatcher testifies on behalf of the Washington State Hospital Association in strong support of the bill. She explains that the bill concerns non-emergent scheduled care and provides historical context on Washington’s charity care laws, noting the original 1989 act and the 2022 expansion. She argues that charity care has always been intended for Washington residents, while emergency care remains available to everyone. In response to questions, she notes that statewide 2024 charity care data is available and cites $575 million in charity care, with additional discussion prompting follow-up about potential Medicaid-related changes.
HB2250 — HB 2250 is discussed as a bill affecting charity care and hospital operations, especially for rural and border hospitals. Supporters argue it restores a practical balance and helps sustain hospitals, while the bill is also described as governing non-emergent scheduled care and residency definitions. Critics raise concerns that it creates barriers and uses a vague residency standard, framing the bill as problematic in how it defines who qualifies as a resident.
HB2250 — HB 2250 is discussed in a continuous segment of testimony and debate. Speakers describe it as preserving emergency care protections while restoring guardrails for non-urgent care, and note that it would not exclude immigrants living in Washington. One witness testifies in support, saying the bill provides a necessary floor and would not prevent hospitals from adopting more generous policies. Another witness argues the bill does not address concerns previously raised about a similar 2024 proposal, and the segment ends with an explicit request to vote no on HB 2250.
Joe Schmick — Addressed as Ranking Member Schmick by the witness.
Joe Schmick — Joe Schmick asked where the stipend funding comes from and followed up by asking what funds cover the stipend, drug testing payments, and other program costs.
Joe Schmick — Addressed as Ranking Member Schmick.
Alicia Rule — Representative Rule is thanked for introducing the bill, and the discussion then continues with the chair asking follow-up questions about the bill, including its implications for charity care. The later mentions appear to be overlapping/uncertain transcript references within the same exchange.
Nyjura Hasu — Introduces herself as an attorney with Columbia Legal Services and states opposition to the bill.
Nijura Hasu — Nijura Hasu opposes the bill, arguing that it creates barriers for low-income Washingtonians, limits access to care rather than addressing a real problem, and uses vague residency standards that could produce inconsistent and discriminatory outcomes. She warns that the bill is especially problematic for immigrants and other vulnerable groups, including people whose visas limit their ability to intend to remain indefinitely, and concludes by urging the committee to oppose the measure because it risks harming vulnerable communities and undermining the health care system.
Eli Rush Banks — Introduces himself as general counsel of Dollar 4, a nonprofit patient advocacy organization.
Eli Rushbanks — General counsel of Dollar 4; testified that the organization helps patients apply for charity care and cited reports on charity care access and revenue impact.
Mr. Jasso — Witness is addressed directly about possible exclusions from charity care and agrees to work on the issue.
witness on a temporary visa — Speaks from personal experience as a former temporary visa holder and explains visa categories.
Elizabeth New — Elizabeth New is introduced as the next online witness, then she begins her testimony, identifying herself as being with the Washington Policy Center and directing its Center for Health Care.
Suzanne Vanderwerf — Suzanne Vanderwerf is introduced as the next witness, then invited to proceed. She identifies herself as Vice President of Revenue Cycle and Health Information Integrity at Seattle Children’s Hospital and testifies in support of HB 2250 on behalf of the hospital.
Vanessa Sabadra — Introduces herself as a senior attorney with Northwest Health Law Advocates and testifies against HB 2250.
Rebecca Gardia — Introduces herself as being with Q-Law Foundation of Washington and testifies against HB 2250.
HB2340 — House Bill 2340 was introduced for staff presentation and discussed as a measure extending the substance use monitoring program to nursing assistants. Staff explained that the bill applies existing confidentiality and stipend provisions to nursing assistants, the sponsor described it as a simple expansion of access to the program, and testimony noted that it would improve equitable financial support and reduce stigma for participants. Public testimony on the bill was then closed.
Kim Whedner — Committee staff introduced House Bill 2340 and said it relates to substance use monitoring programs for nursing assistants.
HB1255 — House Bill 1255 was referenced as the 2023 law that made related changes. Staff then explained that the bill did two key things: it prohibited certain public posting of enforcement actions and required a stipend program for nurses participating in the monitoring program.
Anthony Partridge — The chair introduced Anthony Partridge from the Washington State Board of Nursing, and Partridge then identified himself as the Assistant Director in Policy and Public Affairs and testified in support of House Bill 2340.
HB2577 — The committee took up House Bill 2577 and heard a staff report explaining that the bill would require the Department of Health to inspect acute care hospitals at least every 18 months, with provisions related to emergency inspections.
Allison Ryan — Committee staff introduced House Bill 2577 and began the staff report on acute care hospital inspections.
Allison Ryan — Thanked for the bill report.
Nicole Macri — Representative Nicole Macri thanked the committee for hearing the bill and explained that it responds to the JLARC hospital inspections report. She said the legislation is intended to clarify the law and set clear expectations for both hospitals and the department regarding regular inspections. The department then thanked her for sponsoring the legislation and acknowledged her as the bill’s sponsor.
Steve Bergquist — Representative Steve Bergquist is addressed and participates in a discussion focused on delayed hospital inspections. He thanks the speaker for the legislation, then raises repeated concerns that the state is behind on inspections, citing worries from nurses and others about hospital safety and patient care. He asks how the department will catch up and when the backlog of inspections will be addressed.
Ramiro Cantu — Ramiro Cantu, Office Director for the Office of Health Systems at the Department of Health, testified in support of the bill on behalf of the department. After being introduced as someone who could comment on related Department of Health efforts, he identified himself and explained the department’s position. He then answered questions, reiterating strong support for the bill and noting that even with the proposed changes, catching up will still take time because of the current statute and the inspection pause during the public health emergency.
Cameron Buck — Cameron Buck, an emergency medicine physician at Valley Medical Center, testified in support of House Bill 2232 and described his leadership roles on EMS, trauma, and cardiac/stroke advisory groups connected to the Department of Health.