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• Introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser, (D-Kent) (D) on January 29, 2009, provides that a health benefit plan that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010, and that provides coverage for organ transplants, may not permit a separate lifetime limit on transplants .
  • Referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee on January 29, 2009.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 20, 2009, to mandate that after January 1, 2010, all health benefit plans that provide coverage for organ and tissue transplants are not allowed to include a separate lifetime limit on transplants that is any less than $350,000. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 20, 2009.
  • Referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 20, 2009.
• Passed in the Senate (47 to 0) on March 4, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on March 5, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Health Care and Wellness Committee on March 5, 2009.
    • Amendment offered in the House on March 26, 2009, to clarify that the lifetime limit does not apply to chronic care that is provided beginning 90 days after the transplant. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 26, 2009.
  • Referred to the House Rules Committee on March 30, 2009.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Eileen Cody, (D-West Seattle) (D) on April 14, 2009, to add that the lifetime limit on transplants applies from one day before a transplant, or the date of hospital admission for a patient who receives a transplant during the course of a longer hospital stay,until one hundred days after the transplant. The lifetime limit applies to both organ and tissue transplant. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on April 14, 2009.
• Passed in the House (97 to 0) on April 14, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on April 22, 2009, Senate agreed with the House amendments. Passed in the Senate (49 to 0) on April 22, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on May 14, 2009, After January 1, 2010, all health benefit plans that provide coverage for organ transplants are not allowed to include a separate lifetime limit on transplants that is any less than $350,000. A house amendment provides that the lifetime limit on transplants applies from one day prior to the date of the transplant or the date of hospital admission through 100 days after the transplant. The major medical lifetime limit applies to health care services provided before and after this time period. Donor-related services may apply to the lifetime limit on transplants any time. It is clarified that organ transplants include tissue transplants.