Official Text and Analysis.

• Establishes two categories of hospitals for the purposes of charity care requirements and increases the existing income threshold for patients to receive charity care for the full amount of their charges, as well as the threshold to receive a discount on their charges. • Allows hospitals to reduce the amount of a discount provided to a charity care patient based on the person's assets. • Requires hospital charity care policies to include procedures for identifying patients who may be eligible for health care coverage through public medical assistance programs or the Washington Health Benefit Exchange and assisting them in applying for available coverage.

Expands category 1 hospitals to include behavioral health hospitals. Reduces the discount levels that category 2 hospitals are required to provide so that patients at 201-250% FPL receive a 75% discount, patients at 251-300% FPL receive a 50% discount, and patients at 301-400% FPL no longer receive a discount. Modifies the definition of indigent person to reflect the changes to category 2 hospitals. Clarifies hospitals are not required to provide charity care if they determine the patient qualifies for retroactive Medicaid coverage. Prohibits hospitals from imposing application procedures for charity care that place an unreasonable burden on the patient. Expands the list of assets that hospitals must exclude from their asset considerations to include $8,000 of monetary assets for a family of two and $1,500 of monetary assets for each additional family member, a second vehicle needed for employment or medical purposes, prepaid burial contract or plot, and a life insurance policy of $10,000 or less. Requires the value of any asset with an early withdrawal penalty be the value after the penalty has been paid for the purposes of asset considerations.

Requires OIC in consultation with the Exchange to study, analyze, and report on enrollment in high deductible plans from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026.

House concurred in Senate amendments. Passed final passage.