Concerning the provision of palliative care services by volunteer organizations that provide hospice care without compensation.

 H-0480.1

HOUSE BILL 1577

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representatives Bernbaum, Tharinger, Gregerson, Wylie, Simmons, and Reed

Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

AN ACT Relating to the provision of palliative care services by volunteer organizations that provide hospice care without compensation; amending 2024 c 166 s 1 (uncodified); and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. 2024 c 166 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

(1) The office of the insurance commissioner, in consultation with the health care authority, shall convene a work group to design the parameters of a palliative care benefit and payment model for the benefit of fully insured health plans, as defined in RCW 48.43.005 . The work group must coordinate its work with the ongoing work at the health care authority related to designing a palliative care benefit for the state medicaid program and the employee and retiree benefits program.