Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
SSB 5923
Brief Description: Concerning critical access hospital designations in Skagit county.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Muzzall, Lovelett, Nobles and Shewmake).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Allows a hospital on an island in Skagit County upon certification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be eligible for payment as a critical access hospital.
Hearing Date: 2/26/26
Staff: Meghan Morris (786-7119).
Background:

There are 39 hospitals in Washington that are certified as critical access hospitals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  These are hospitals with 25 beds or less that are generally located in rural areas.  They must deliver continuous emergency department services, and they may not have an average length of stay of more than 96 hours per patient.  The Critical Access Hospital program allows hospitals under Washington's medical assistance programs to receive payment for hospital services based on allowable costs and to have more flexibility in staffing.
Summary of Bill:

A hospital located on an island in Skagit County, upon certification by CMS, is eligible for payment as a critical access hospital.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.