The state’s 60-day legislative session starts on Monday, January 8. This year brings a change as Senate Democrats re-take control after the Majority Coalition Caucus seized it in late 2012. Among the many bills under consideration are ones that:

• create a state reinsurance program intended to mitigate expected health insurance premium increases due to the loss of the individual mandate and other factors;
• address reproductive health equity;
• improve insurance coverage and affordability;
• address the opioid crisis; and
• protect CHIP and insurance access amidst federal changes.

Governor Inslee released a budget proposal last month with key health care investments in behavioral health, including a proposal to transfer community behavioral health and substance use disorder programs from the Department of Social and Health Services to the Health Care Authority to help the state fully integrate physical and behavioral health by 2020. The Governor also proposed restoring adult Medicaid coverage for hearing aids, which was cut in 2011. However, a cut to the Medicaid dental budget associated with a shift to managed care is not restored in the Governor’s budget. NoHLA is finalizing our legislative priorities and will share timely updates on key bills in subsequent newsletters.