SB5981 — Senate Bill 5981 is discussed as a measure intended to protect vulnerable patients and help the hospital, with one speaker expressing support for those goals and another witness later testifying in opposition on behalf of the Washington Hospitality Association.
SB5981 — Multiple speakers testified in opposition to Senate Bill 5981, arguing that it would shift costs to taxpayers, employers, and working families rather than provide true savings to patients. Critics said the bill does not require hospitals to pass discounts on to patients, is not simply "free money" for hospitals, and may encourage more contract pharmacy arrangements that increase costs. One speaker noted that transparency provisions had been added but were insufficient to address the underlying problems. Public testimony on the bill then concluded and the committee moved into executive session.
Lisa Nelson — Lisa Nelson is introduced as the next witness and then identifies herself as the Chief Pharmacy Officer at Unity Care Northwest, a community health center in Bellingham, beginning her testimony in support of Substitute Senate Bill 5981.
SB5981 — The witness expressed support for Substitute Senate Bill 5981, describing it as important to the health center’s operations and essential for protecting the integrity of the 340B program.
SB5981 — Opposed by Emily Whitman.
Sean Otley — Chief operations officer at Lake Chelan Health; testified that SB 5981 would help the hospital.
Sean Otley — Sean Otley explained that Lake Chelan Health does have contract pharmacies in Chelan proper, primarily through Walmart, but expansion is limited because there are very few pharmacies in town.
Mike Innes — Testified on behalf of the Building Industry Association of Washington in opposition to SB 5981.
Logan Dozier — Testified on behalf of the Washington Hospitality Association in opposition to Senate Bill 5981.
Patrick Conner — Testified on behalf of NFIB in opposition to the bill, emphasizing impacts on small businesses.
Rhonda Hoff — Rhonda Hoff, CEO of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, introduced herself and testified that the 340B contract pharmacy program is increasingly critical for community health centers like hers because rising uncompensated care, including impacts from HR1, makes the savings essential to supporting patient care.
Brian Henderson — Testified on behalf of AbbVie in opposition to the bill.
Eric Mall — Testified in support of Second Substitute Senate Bill 5981 as CEO of Mason General Hospital.
Mason General Hospital representative — The Mason General Hospital representative testified that the 340B program is a lifeline for the hospital, but that manufacturer restrictions and limits on contract pharmacies have cut its 340B savings by about half over the past seven years. The witness added that preserving the 340B benefit would have left the hospital less vulnerable to HR1-related cuts and urged protection of contract pharmacy arrangements.
Robert Popovian — Robert Popovian testified on behalf of the Pioneer Institute about its multi-year study of the 340B program. He praised the transparency requirements for hospitals and clinics, then described findings from the institute’s analysis: Washington’s 340B hospitals provide less charity care, serve fewer uninsured patients, and deliver less unreimbursed care than non-340B hospitals. He explained that the data came from HRSA and RAND Corporation analyses of CMS data, and argued that there is little transparency around how much 340B revenue hospitals receive and how much is reinvested in the community. He also noted that the largest contract pharmacy entities in Washington are OptumRx and PILPAC, and concluded that non-340B hospitals provide more charity care while also paying local, state, and federal taxes.
Jennifer Kent — Jennifer Kent introduced herself as an independent health consultant with over 25 years of experience in state Medicaid programs and said her California experience with the 340B program was relevant to the committee’s work. She explained that California carved out 340B drugs for cost, rebate, and managed care reasons, estimated the state’s annual revenue loss at more than a billion dollars, and argued that the bill would effectively give 340B entities a blank check by requiring purchasers and payers to pay retail prices for drugs that were discounted.
Sherry Beagleman — Sherry Beagleman, Policy and Advocacy Director at BlackDoctor.org, testified in opposition to the bill. She said BlackDoctor.org reaches about 20 million Black consumers each month and referenced a January 21 letter outlining transparency concerns and arguing that the fiscal note does not reflect the amendments. She asked the committee to review the letter and a New York Times article describing a Senate inquiry into the private contractor involved in the 340B program, and thanked the committee for hearing her on behalf of the Black community.
Perry Knight — Perry Knight testified on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicines, stating that J&J supports the 340B program but opposes SB 5981. He argued that federal appellate courts have upheld manufacturers’ ability to impose reasonable conditions on contract pharmacies and claims data, and that the bill would conflict with settled law.
Lizzie Wedig — Testifies on behalf of Tegelalee Foundation and says her personal experience with her mother's breast cancer motivated her advocacy work.
Roger Goodman — Referenced as a prior witness whose testimony included data on charity care and related issues.
Roger Goodman — Vote recorded as aye.
Clayton Rooley — Testifies on behalf of the Community Liberal Alliance and opposes SB 5981 as written.
Lee Nugent — Testifies on behalf of PILMA and opposes SB 5981.
Daria McGrew — Testifies on behalf of Pharma in respectful opposition to SB 5981.
Primo Castro — Testified in opposition to Senate Bill 5981 on behalf of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
Emily Whitman — Testified on behalf of the Association of Washington Business in opposition to Substitute Senate Bill 5981.
Curtis Knapp — Testified for Life Science Washington in opposition to Senate Bill 5981.
Anne Murray — Testified on behalf of Bristol Myers Squibb in opposition to Senate Bill 5981.
SB5124 — First bill briefed for executive session; relates to Medicaid network adequacy requirements for post-acute care services.
Kim Whedner — Committee staff member who briefed Substitute Senate Bill 5917 and its amendments.
SB5917 — Briefed as relating to abortion medications dispensed and distributed by the Department of Corrections.
SB5917 — Reported out of committee with a do pass recommendation after the vote.
Matt Marshall — Representative Matt Marshall is repeatedly identified as the sponsor of several amendments to Substitute Senate Bill 5917, including Weeks 083, 084, 085, 086, and 087, indicating a series of related amendment sponsorships discussed in one continuous segment.
SB5988 — Briefed as relating to the Department of Health's opioid treatment program accrediting activities and described as a companion to House Bill 2437.
SB5988 — Senate Bill 5988 was called up after the prior vote, moved by Vice Chair Lekanoff for a do pass recommendation, and discussed as a bill supporting tribal recovery centers and the use of opioid settlement funds. The committee then voted, and the bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation.
HB2437 — Identified as the companion bill to Senate Bill 5988.
Lillian Ortiz-Self — Vice Chair name appears to be mis-transcribed as 'Lacanof'; likely referring to a vice chair member, but the exact member is uncertain from this section.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 085.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall explains Amendment 085, which broadens definitions so the medications can be used for non-reproductive indications and easier disposition.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 083, which would require future purchases to be legislatively appropriated rather than made on an emergency order.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 086 after Amendment 083 fails.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 086, which would limit the medications to Washington State residents.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 087 after Amendment 086 fails.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 087, arguing the state should recover some costs by prioritizing disposition to paying entities.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall moves Amendment 084, which would remove the emergency clause from the bill.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall argues the emergency clause is unjustified because prior medication purchases expired unused and says the state should stop repurchasing them.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall is called on for discussion opposing the bill.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall opposes the underlying bill, calling the program a knee-jerk reaction after Dobbs and a misuse of public dollars.
Dan Bronoske — Representative Marshall continues opposition to the bill, arguing the program was a reaction to Dobbs and has wasted public dollars.
Monica Stonier — Representative Monica Stonier responds to Amendment 086, opposing it on the grounds that the current language is accurate and was negotiated with the Department of Health, and that the amendment would be overly restrictive, costly, and could limit responsiveness to patient needs.