February 9, 2024

Three WSMA-Opposed Scope Bills Dead; More Session News

Two important bill deadlines have passed so far this legislative session, meaning a number of bills, including some opposed by the WSMA, will no longer be considered.

Wednesday, Jan. 31, marked the first cutoff deadline of the 2024 legislative session. Bills that were not approved by their respective policy committees by that date are not technically eligible for further consideration this session. Monday, Feb. 5, the first fiscal committee cutoff deadline, required bills with a fiscal impact on the state budget to be approved by each chamber's budget committees to receive further consideration.

The following WSMA-opposed bills related to scope of practice and the business of medicine did not meet one or other of the deadlines and are not expected to receive further consideration this year:

• SB 5411: Would have granted naturopaths prescriptive authority for all Schedule II-V drugs, including opioids, fentanyl, and ketamine, without detailing specific education and training requirements.
• HB 2116: Would have granted the Pharmacy Commission authority to establish rules identifying drugs, drug classes, and devices that a pharmacist may prescribe and the types of patients and circumstances in which a pharmacist can prescribe.
• SB 6144: Would have allowed, under certain conditions, psychologists to be granted prescriptive authority for psychotropic medications used in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with certain mental and behavioral disorders.
• SB 5373: Would have required that ARNPs and physician assistants be reimbursed by commercial insurers at the same rate as physicians, counter to WSMA policy.
• HB 2119: Would have limited the ability to collect medical debt.

• HB 2066: Would have prohibited health care facilities and providers from engaging in certain contracting tactics to shift more power in contract negotiations toward insurance carriers.

Bills considered necessary to implement the budget, such as WSMA-priority HB 2476/SB 6309 that would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates via a covered lives assessment, are exempted from the policy deadlines.

Looking ahead to the next bill deadline, legislators will have until Tuesday, Feb. 13, to debate with their colleagues, offer amendments, and pass bills that originated in their chambers.

Want more session news?

For members wanting more frequent and detailed updates on our session advocacy, subscribe to the weekly WSMA Outreach & Advocacy Report by emailing Chelsea Thumberg at chelsea@wsma.org.

Important session dates

• Tuesday, Feb. 13: House of origin cutoff
• Wednesday, Feb. 21: Policy committee cutoff - opposite house
• Monday, Feb. 26: Fiscal committee cutoff - opposite house
• Friday, March 1: Opposite house cutoff
• Thursday, March 7: Last day of session