[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6278701,"mediaKeyId","2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97","parentId",2636816,"title","Committee advances gubernatorial appointments and sends three health-related bills to rules with recommendations","audioSeconds",158,"startMs",1196000,"endMs",1354000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97&start=1196&end=1354","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97/thumbnail_1196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278701/Washington/Committee-advances-gubernatorial-appointments-and-sends-three-health-related-bills-to-rules-with-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278701-ac1d76ee979135f2e29546c821ab2d7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176284&Signature=aGzFGMXnyHK7iYPnkjgPtU-levk4pvHGeXouh39TzwN97DDuT0qsj~VjloUaijPeoT537M62BSEexLFlClWmnnEPcyQA-qlSMUunCIxid-VK65MIB8CP43KIRVARbV9I1g~CkzScimruDAMM9vuYYAER6pQk6Uvlx5eqjlxDa-F~rPrbbQZB6kQjHeR1VKYW4LjuAXigxtXg5~Gr97C3Mvb-cr-TP1NsrjMHd4Ha-xdpZgxoixlO8JFJnTYUyygJyCf-Lz4B-CdTCjhiHwQsYLrT8IoALCYfOdu8jAwqxjYHpT-QQ8EyKVp8NQ7MPiew4bmPtHW9NbAIVgFUlVGoRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","During an executive session on March 14, the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee moved to report four gubernatorial appointments to the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission with a recommendation for confirmation and took action to advance three bills to the Rules Committee.

The committee voted (voice vote) to report the gubernatorial appointments for Stephanie Barton, Huey Yu, Patrick Gallagher, and Hawkins de France to the Senate with a recommendation that the appointments be confirmed. The motion was made and seconded on the floor and approved by voice vote; the record notes the recommendation is \"subject to signatures.\" No roll-call vote was recorded in the public transcript.

On House Bill 1009, which would adjust membership of the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, committee staff described a striking amendment S-2325.1 that increases the commission’s membership from 15 to 16 and adds one additional pharmacy technician member (for a total of two pharmacy technician members). The committee adopted the striking amendment by voice vote and then voted to send the bill as amended to the Rules Committee with a due-pass recommendation; the record shows voice approval.

The committee also moved that substitute House Bill 1706, concerning alignment of application programming interfaces for prior authorization with federal guidance, receive a 2nd-pass recommendation to Rules. The committee recorded a voice vote in favor. Finally, substitute House Bill 1720, which expands the types of medication assistance allowed in community-based care settings, was moved and approved to be sent to Rules with a due-pass recommendation. All three bills were recorded as \"passed, subject to signatures\" in the committee minutes.

Committee staff briefed members on the gubernatorial appointments and the bills before the executive session; no amendments beyond S-2325.1 were recorded and the actions were taken by voice vote without a roll-call tally in the public transcript. The committee adjourned after completing the recorded actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health & Long-Term Care March 14, 8:00 am","oneSentenceSummary","In executive session on March 14, the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee recommended confirmation of four gubernatorial appointees to the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission and advanced three bills to the Rules Committee, including one as amended with an added pharmacy technician seat.","taxTitle","Health & Long Term Care, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20503,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278703,"Committee hears bill to broaden eligibility for social work advisory committee seat, clarify association-service limits",209,950000,1159000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97&start=950&end=1159","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97/thumbnail_950000.jpg","/articles/6278703/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-broaden-eligibility-for-social-work-advisory-committee-seat-clarify-association-service-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278703-456f200aa40fa78caf7e2b9d2e628850/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176284&Signature=d6udokPMzgrO3oONt3k5BOa6e7YXJalcllSTr8t-kdp5inApVefOYRNSaqhVXYX8MLLPN3tHNd5-eX5oXaqeVjf4JIQtzTFbDVIoozzBi8RKkkr1qezbKl90o-Rr5A~Lx7cHsjDvfi1EH5E2MM9F9qPEhm~yR2LzlW6oEo4ymInghpvPVgR4eO~RTgD0sAIc5vgrXh9CNLyVmWcmpApyl5rpjtUV~XcCCJw3OqF338bIXTN~RvjnuvUnAoMIikfhzJs5FXPNICz2VGI5jADSzNoJTPmbbnGbu1OzYDv9X7X0QThhdZJcyx~9kXgli1gBfqyhmts84p93bIr365eDfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 12 34, which would change membership rules for the mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers advisory committee and clarify limits on committee members’ service in professional associations.

Committee staff Greg Attenacio briefed members that the advisory committee currently includes nine members: two licensed mental health counselors, two marriage and family therapists, one independent clinical social worker, one advanced social worker, and three consumers, and that members may not hold an office in a professional association. The bill would allow the seat now reserved for an advanced social worker to be filled by either an advanced social worker (LASW) or an independent clinical social worker (LICSW), and would limit the prohibition on association service to holding a governing office or board position.

Jeremy Arp, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Washington chapter, testified in support and said the change would address a current vacancy in the LASW seat caused by a small pool of LASW practitioners in the state. Arp said the narrower prohibition would allow volunteers and committee members who serve in non-governing roles in professional associations to participate on the advisory committee.

The committee recorded 36 pro, 0 con, and 0 other on the bill. Testimony emphasized that the change would allow fuller participation by licensed social workers in advising on licensure, continuing education and future rulemaking. No committee vote on final passage occurred during the hearing.","House Bill 12 34 would allow an advisory committee seat that now requires a licensed advanced social worker to be filled by either an advanced social worker or an independent clinical social worker and would clarify that committee members may not hold governing officer or board positions in relevant professional associations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278705,"Committee hears bill expanding HEALWA access to psychological and counselor associates",313,255000,568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97&start=255&end=568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97/thumbnail_255000.jpg","/articles/6278705/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-expanding-HEALWA-access-to-psychological-and-counselor-associates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278705-839f37edc58e8e3a388532965e8cb4de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176284&Signature=LV8i1ky2vCXpBsXtyvvVTt8vMMprnAl2phcvDniSGbuMSfUMLPYRXmzpUmxMkCKh2Tdal1SaRADjgExNk0Mot7Kn1or0DLvYmFpWfWvdFbotdDDskckGKOYzhqEqy9Zhwy45lAhTB4rH3C42JuzKPAyW7oPE1BTrxNy1GvMUGXwMFxyciozmXSdN2U46gda9d9hUt9akIuqElv1wIwIQSysHvNljJZYd9HUqye-1rBkuhvDcHSmn7z-PMnVfrZ7iXj80CHepxCAKcSC25ljliLnmhp13NWbX1W-kfUPhw-tqPQvUCyulVSjVMZAA3UrRNFQ8V1~vQOsX8Fry3qGEqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1190, a bill to expand access to the University of Washington Health Sciences Library’s Health Evidence Resource for Washington (HEALWA) to psychological associates and mental health counselor associates.

Rohan Bhattacharjee, committee staff, briefed the committee that HEALWA provides online clinical information and educational resources to eligible health care providers and that 26 professions are currently authorized to access the resource. The bill would add psychological associates and mental health counselor associates to the eligible list; staff said the measure passed the House 96–0.

Representative Matt Marshall, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the change was requested by psychology and mental health counselor associates so they could access current research, data and continuing education opportunities. \"This was brought to me by the Psychology Associates and mental health associates, because they would like to have access,\" Marshall said.

Shannon Thompson, representing the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association and testifying in support, said the associates were left out of prior authorizations and the bill simply grants access that similar provider types already have. Committee staff clarified that the authorization is linked to a fee: there is a fee of $25.25 that is charged to eligible users and the bill adds the new professions to the section authorizing that charge.

The committee recorded public sign-in counts of 65 pro, 0 con, and 1 other. Testimony and staff briefing indicated no additional state cost because access is incorporated into licensing fees and no committee vote was taken at the hearing; the bill was set for further consideration.","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1190, which would add psychological associates and mental health counselor associates to the list of professions eligible for HEALWA access through the University of Washington Health Sciences Library.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278706,"Senate committee hears bill to let behavioral health counselors share patient information for care coordination",751,29000,780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97&start=29&end=780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97/thumbnail_29000.jpg","/articles/6278706/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-let-behavioral-health-counselors-share-patient-information-for-care-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278706-c63ba1e1f8802c6fd3c855fe04dd8519/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176284&Signature=Rs2TELr5WJIQMO7gLJUd71Cs1ofMTmkRQKjwVGT8xgEuwwsSY2wg3o993rc0M2m7UbIAdYBLpVAEQ-aexfhLG9-qDWcVU2m7XMOMh8kMYTfBqFkstxwawBLJennQYCOusvfgJgelycpV5SC0qVBC8p0Zyp5NtpDh~UjqjUyxu84uStXoDEbWqYQe3SsaQJARytnSABjIX1iOzf-TZU2rWNCaRXyhzC6NGbN0a4cFm-34sYqMdjT2IBmrYX5lVDp6I07FthQbtZZn9JssYVudgbWvX6-4uS6v6ms~ZWGxwEbCp9Y8cRDzP0nDu~lo9Y6K~8KLsf9adwpX3PFH8hz6NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1287, which would permit certain behavioral health providers to disclose patient information for care coordination consistent with state and federal privacy protections.

Committee staff told members the bill would allow a patient’s written acknowledgment and information obtained in the course of providing professional services to be disclosed under the state Uniform Healthcare Information Act. Greg Attenaccio, committee staff, briefed the panel on the bill’s text and the current statutory framework for behavioral health acknowledgments.

Representative Alicia Ruehl, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the measure is intended to help providers work together during behavioral health crises. \"This is a very helpful bill at just the right time,\" Representative Ruehl said, adding that \"in some moments when we're working with behavioral health crises, it's minutes that matter.\"

Sean O’Neil, legislative relations manager at the Health Care Authority (HCA), testified in support as an agency request bill. He said the proposal removes a restriction that currently prevents counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers from sharing client information with other providers treating the same patient and that disclosures would remain protected under HIPAA, federal SUD and mental health statutes, and the state's Uniform Healthcare Information Act (cited in the hearing as RCW 7,002).

Wendy Sisk, CEO of Peninsula Behavioral Health and a licensed mental health counselor, said requiring written consent has been a significant barrier to care coordination for people with serious and persistent mental illness and that the bill does not compel disclosure but removes a statutory prohibition. \"The bill would solve that by allowing behavioral health providers to more easily share information for the purposes of care coordination,\" Sisk said.

Committee staff recorded public sign-in counts for the bill: 26 pro, 5 con, and 1 other. No committee vote occurred at the hearing; the bill was temporarily set aside for later consideration and to allow registered witnesses who were not yet present to testify.

The bill’s proponents emphasized that the change is permissive—providers would be allowed, not required, to share information—and that federal and state privacy protections would continue to apply. The committee scheduled the bill for further consideration as part of the day’s agenda.

The hearing record shows staff briefings, sponsor remarks, and multiple supporters from state agencies and community behavioral health providers; no floor amendment or committee vote on the bill was recorded during the public hearing.","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1287, which would permit certain behavioral health providers to disclose patient information for care coordination consistent with state and federal privacy protections.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278704,"Senate panel hears bill adding great-grandchildren to list eligible for certified vital records",137,797000,934000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97&start=797&end=934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2636816-7b27bc91ce12623ffac25a0242bf7d97/thumbnail_797000.jpg","/articles/6278704/Washington/Senate-panel-hears-bill-adding-great-grandchildren-to-list-eligible-for-certified-vital-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278704-1be7b03246fdd7338a562ce913ae0853/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176284&Signature=akw~dvMhzqtTZHzIC60ERFIQ9K-xYaRUss2Og78Fdb6RTmpoBBvP2BHcZptL-QwO6aYsxswRle3SfFwYNfoxF1KLyjlxCERDGd82RTOB1D2vsCH1io3dYDmbDdt2vYS1~1QqB~WFSsuCD06BN-P69SLJIs3gBwN5Gi2L~nVWDc6atrN8YvzIm6CMVlkquUalrc90sMZJArWJDPyJp-mGX6bbe5YfaRZZoSUpaLyFboOL~mC4NQDRAvd2G8eJyB7eKzHx6-6dPNZxDqr3VvALlqyPEQ0PW3Yg0IO6ntNtPfJVbGqHw6t5IRpsHMM1AjOepnd0CIjLEMhkcqYhh7rg0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14 heard House Bill 1157, which would add great-grandchildren to the list of family members eligible to obtain certified copies of birth and death certificates from the Washington State Department of Health.

Committee staff Rohan Bhattacharjee told members the Department of Health maintains vital records and that certified copies of birth and death certificates are used for official or legal purposes while noncertified informational copies are for information only. Under current law, a set list of family members are qualified applicants; the bill would add great-grandchildren to that list.

Senator questions to staff asked what documentation applicants must provide; staff said applicants must submit required documentation and an eligibility form available on the Department of Health website but offered to provide more specifics after the hearing.

The bill recorded public sign-in counts of 78 pro, 0 con, and 0 other. No committee amendment or vote on final passage occurred during the hearing; the bill was closed out and sent forward for committee consideration.","House Bill 1157 would allow great-grandchildren to obtain certified copies of birth and death certificates from the Department of Health. Staff said the bill passed the House unanimously and that applicants must provide required documentation to receive certified copies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances gubernatorial appointments and sends three health-related bills to rules with recommendations

Committee hears bill to broaden eligibility for social work advisory committee seat, clarify association-service limits

Committee hears bill expanding HEALWA access to psychological and counselor associates

Senate committee hears bill to let behavioral health counselors share patient information for care coordination

Senate panel hears bill adding great-grandchildren to list eligible for certified vital records