Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Bringing a perspective of lived experience to the Legislature is one of the most important things that a citizen legislator can do. While I often speak about that lived experience on the community safety front, I also worked for over a decade as a registered nurse. As a member of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, I get to bring my experience in the medical field to the table. This year I have proposed several bills to improve patient access and care. Read on to learn more about the work I am doing on the Health Care & Wellness Committee.
Making Our Healthcare System Work for Patients, Not Insurers
Before a healthcare provider can prescribe a drug, procedure, or test for a patient’s care, they must seek authorization from a patient’s health insurance company. This practice is known as ‘prior authorization,’ and health insurance companies often have different authorization standards and criteria for services based on the level of insurance or the healthcare provider.
As a nurse for over a decade, I know that this practice harms our patients by slowing access to the proper treatment. Our healthcare providers should be focused on getting their patients well, but instead, they have to spend time and resources obtaining prior authorization.
That is why I have proposed a bill to modernize the prior authorization process. HB 1357 updates the time frame for decisions by insurance companies, ensures that the people making decisions for insurance companies have the proper qualifications, requires insurance companies to have electronic authorization options, and requires insurance companies to make their criteria for approving or denying treatment readily available. All of these steps will ensure that a patient is not denied needed treatment and speed up the timeframe in which they are able to access it. This bill also requires that insurance companies not require prior authorization for treatments or tests that are approved over 95% of the time. Finally, the bill makes it easier to bring a lawsuit if you did not receive proper care as a result of the prior authorization process.
All of this will mean healthcare providers are spending less time wrangling with insurance companies and more time caring for their patients. Our healthcare system should exist to get people well, not pad corporate profits. This bill puts the patient’s needs first.
Cutting Red Tape for Physical and Occupational Therapists
Physical and Occupational Therapists help people recover and rehabilitate from injuries and adapt to new physical realities. Their work helping people recover from injuries often goes hand in hand with the work of other healthcare professionals. Physical and occupational therapists could easily form a practice with a massage therapist or chiropractor that could provide comprehensive services all under one roof. Unfortunately, state law currently bars them from owning and operating a professional service corporation with other healthcare professionals.
That is why I introduced HB 1082, which allows occupational and physical therapists to join into professional service corporations with other healthcare professionals such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, or massage therapists. This removes an unnecessary regulation that prevents healthcare professionals from better serving their community. It also creates savings and convenience for patients who can receive multiple treatments at one location. HB 1082 passed the House unanimously on Wednesday and has now been referred to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. This common-sense fix will unlock economic potential for physical and occupational therapists and save patients time and money.
Helping Babies with Prenatal Substance Exposure
Prenatal substance exposure can impact a child and their chance at success before they are even born. Washington has an interagency agreement dedicated to identification, prevention, and intervention programs for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. It is time that our state treats children with prenatal substance exposure just as seriously.
That is why I introduced a bill to treat prenatal substance exposure the same way that we treat Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. All children deserve a fair shot to start life and this bill will ensure that kids and families impacted by Substance Use Disorder have a chance. HB 1168 passed the House Health Care & Wellness Committee last week and I am confident that it will pass the full House.
A New Tax Credit for Washington Workers Starts in 2023!
The Working Families Tax Credit is a new program that will provide payments of up to $1,200 to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. The amounts are based on income level and the number of qualifying children (if any). The program goes live on Wednesday, February 1st.
This program will help us stimulate local economies, promote racial equity, and provide the financial stability Washington families need right now. To find more information in several available languages, visit WorkingFamililesCredit.wa.gov.
Thank you for reading my legislative newsletter. I will continue updating you periodically throughout the legislative session.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tarra Simmons