SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5420
As of February 19, 2021
Title: An act relating to data reporting requirements for hospitals.
Brief Description: Concerning data reporting requirements for hospitals.
Sponsors: Senators Muzzall, Schoesler and Warnick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/10/21, 2/12/21 [DPS, DNP].
Ways & Means: 2/19/21.
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to review and issue a report on all state and federal hospital reporting requirements.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5420 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Ranking Member; Holy, Keiser, Padden, Rivers, Robinson, Van De Wege and Wilson, J.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Conway and Randall.
Staff: Ricci Crinzi (786-7253)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Staff: Sandy Stith (786-7710)
Background:

The Department of Health licenses and regulates acute care and psychiatric health hospitals.  Hospitals are required to report to state agencies on a variety of items including adverse events, unprofessional conduct, events that affect the operation and maintenance of the facility, certain communicable diseases, healthcare associated infections, as well as financial, discharge, and admission data.
Summary of Bill (First Substitute):

By November 1, 2022, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy must conduct a comprehensive review of all state and federal data or information reporting obligations on acute care and psychiatric hospitals in Washington State and submit a report with its finding to the Department of Health, and the appropriate committees of the Legislature.  At a minimum, the report must:

  • identify all state and federal data or information reporting requirements for hospitals and determine if any of the requirements are duplicative;
  • identify ways to streamline hospital data and information reporting requirements;
  • determine if state reporting requirements are public; and
  • identify state data or information reporting requirements that should be subject to further review.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE COMMITTEE (First Substitute):
  • Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to review all state and federal data or information reporting obligations on acute care and psychiatric hospitals in Washington State and submit a report by November 1, 2022, to the Department of Health and the Legislature identifying the reporting obligations.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.  New fiscal note requested on February 12, 2021.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Health & Long Term Care):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  PRO:  Hospitals are required to report data to the state and federal government.  Since COVID-19, reporting requirements have increased and hospitals are required to report more information every day.  A short term moratorium on new data reporting requirements is requested.
Persons Testifying (Health & Long Term Care): PRO: Senator Ron Muzzall, Prime Sponsor; Christy Remedios, Washington State Hospital Association; Zosia Stanley, Washington State Hospital Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Health & Long Term Care): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means):

PRO:  Further review with Washington State Institute for Public Policy indicates a better place for review may be the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.  This bill is not to remove or stop data reporting by hospitals.  It is a look-back.  This is an attempt to find ways to streamline current processes and reduce redundancies.  This will also help small rural hospitals.  Hospitals are required to report data to the state and federal government.  This is an overarching look at this reporting.  Reporting adds to hospital cost.  This is about being more efficient in our reporting, not reporting less information.

 

CON:  This is not the right time to reduce hospital reporting.  The current public health emergency has revealed gaps in reporting in a number of areas, such as financial and community health.  Other stakeholders should be included in this process.  The process in HB 1272 should be adopted.
Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Zosia Stanley, Washington State Hospital Association.
CON: Katharine Weiss, Washington State Nurses Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.