| legislature-passes-wsma-priority-legislation-to-preserve-access-to-preventive-services-and-vaccines | Legislature Passes WSMA Priority Legislation to Preserve Access to Preventive Services and Vaccines | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March 6/legislature-passes-wsma-priority-legislation-to-preserve-access-to-preventive-services-and-vaccines | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/march/getty-images-c2PPCDPMB-A-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 Legislative Session Updates" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>Legislature Passes WSMA Priority Legislation to Preserve Access to Preventive Services and Vaccines</h2>
<p><em>Bill now heads to the governor's desk</em></p>
<p><a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2242&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2242</a>, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D – Lakewood), which preserves access on a covered basis to preventive services, including vaccines, was passed by the Legislature last week with bipartisan support. The legislation, which was requested jointly by Gov. Bob Ferguson and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, now heads to the governor’s desk, where it is presumed to be signed into law in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>This WSMA priority legislation allows the Washington State Department of Health to make recommendations on vaccines in consultation with expert organizations, including professional medical organizations and local health organizations. The law also preserves Washingtonians' access to preventive services without cost-sharing for residents enrolled in commercial health plans who choose to utilize these services.</p>
<p>As leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shaken up and recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices continue to shift away from evidence-based practices, this vital legislation will ensure Washingtonians can continue to access important preventive health services, including vaccines, on a covered basis.</p>
</div> | 3/5/2026 3:29:43 PM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsma-legislative-priorities-advancing-as-session-winds-down | WSMA Legislative Priorities Advancing as Session Winds Down | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/March 6/wsma-legislative-priorities-advancing-as-session-winds-down | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/february/2026-Leg-Session-Graphic.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA 2026 Legislative Session Updates" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 6, 2026</h5>
<h2>WSMA Legislative Priorities Advancing as Session Winds Down</h2>
<p><em>Plus, an update on scope of practice bills</em></p>
<p>The 2026 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn next Thursday, March 12, and the final days of session will be dominated by budget negotiations and deliberations over whether to establish a state income tax. If you missed last week's update on legislative budget proposals, you can read it <a href="https://wsma.org/Shared_Content/News/ceo-rounds/2026/ceo-rounds-feb-24-2026-legislative-budget-proposals-released-what-they-mean-for-health-care">here</a>. Meanwhile, in addition to House Bill 2242, which will preserve access to preventive care and vaccines in our state, the WSMA has been successful in advancing—and defeating—a number of key legislative priorities this year.</p>
<p>Over the last week, votes have been taken in House and Senate committees to approve insurance reforms related to prior authorization (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5395&amp;Chamber=Senate&amp;Year=2025">SB 5395</a>) and prompt payment and insurance carrier claw backs (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5845&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">SB 5845</a>). Legislation to extend the statutory deadlines of the Medicaid Access Program (<a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2385&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">HB 2385</a>) is also advancing.</p>
<p>Defending against bills we oppose is just as important as advancing bills in Olympia, and as of this writing all scope of practice bills the WSMA opposes are considered "dead" for the 2026 session. A Senate proposal to expand scope of practice for pharmacists did get serious consideration this year, and the WSMA will be working with proponents of the bill over the legislative interim to try to work toward an appropriate compromise on the issue. The prime sponsors of the legislation in both the House and the Senate are pharmacists and have signaled their intention to have a bill approved in the 2027 session.</p>
</div> | 3/5/2026 2:11:07 PM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| 2026-legislative-session-update-week-of-mar-2 | 2026 Legislative Session Update: Week of Mar. 2 | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/2026-legislative-session-update-week-of-mar-2 | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/1168963718"><img src="/images/Newsletters/latest-news/2026/march/leg-update-video-3-2-26.png" alt="WSMA Legislative Update: Week of Mar. 2, 2026" /></a></div>
<h5>March 2, 2026</h5>
<h2>2026 Legislative Session Update: Week of Mar. 2 - Senate and House Budget Proposals</h2>
<p>WSMA's Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy Sean Graham takes a look at the positives and negatives of the Senate and House budget proposals that were released last week. <a href="https://vimeo.com/1168963718">Watch the video here</a>.</p>
<p>To get caught up on previous weekly updates from this session, these videos can also be accessed as audio podcasts on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsma-podcasts/id1702920307">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0PBMBLgHr6e0X3OaMjyJON?si=cece76253c2e4888&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=203a61430bf0474d">Spotify</a>.
</p>
<p><strong>Post-Session Webinar, March 13 at noon</strong></p>
<p>Join us March 13 for a post-session wrap-up webinar, where WSMA's government affairs team will review the outcomes of session. And as always, we want to hear your feedback and any concerns or issues you or your practice are facing, so we will hold time during the meeting for questions. <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BcBz1F42TMu-gikCAcPKlA#/registration">Register for the webinar</a>.</p>
</div> | 3/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |