H-0947.1

HOUSE BILL 1686

ByRepresentatives Macri, Cody, Robinson, Riccelli, Slatter, Jinkins, and Pollet

AN ACT Relating to hospital access to care policies; and adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:

(1) By September 1, 2019, every hospital must submit to the department its policies related to access to care regarding:

(a) Admission;

(b) Nondiscrimination;

(c) End of life care; and

(d) Reproductive health care.

(2) The department shall post a copy of the policies received under subsection (1) of this section on its web site.

(3) If a hospital makes changes to any of the policies listed under subsection (1) of this section, it must submit a copy of the changed policy to the department within thirty days after the hospital approves the changes.

(4) A hospital must post a copy of the policies provided to the department under subsection (1) of this section to the hospital's own web site in a location where the policies are readily accessible to the public without a required login or other restriction.

(5) By September 1, 2019, the department shall review submitted policies and develop a form to be used by hospitals to submit the policies required in subsection (1) of this section. The form must provide the public with specific information about what services are and are not performed at each hospital.

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