The bill proposes the consolidation of the public employees' benefits board and the school employees' benefits board into a new entity called the Washington employees and retirees benefits board. This change expands the definitions of "board" and "employee" to include both state and school employees, while ensuring that employees and retirees eligible for benefits prior to January 1, 2010, retain their eligibility unless specific conditions are met. The bill also introduces new terms, such as "School board member" and clarifies definitions for "seasonal employee" and "separated employees," while redefining "state purchased health care" to cover a broader range of services.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the Washington State Health Care Authority in administering health benefits, including the establishment of a community-rated risk pool for health benefits by January 1, 2027. It mandates that rates for individuals, including dependents, be based on this risk pool and includes provisions for premium payment waivers in the event of a covered individual's death. The bill also emphasizes chronic care management for public employees, introduces immediate postpartum contraception coverage, and ensures telemedicine services are reimbursed. Overall, the amendments aim to create a more efficient and inclusive benefits system for public employees and retirees in Washington State.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.05.004, 41.05.008, 41.05.0091, 41.05.022, 41.05.023, 41.05.050, 41.05.075, 41.05.080, 41.05.083, 41.05.085, 41.05.095, 41.05.120, 41.05.123, 41.05.130, 41.05.140, 41.05.143, 41.05.183, 41.05.195, 41.05.197, 41.05.225, 41.05.300, 41.05.320, 41.05.405, 41.05.410, 41.05.525, 41.05.526, 41.05.528, 41.05.540, 41.05.670, 41.05.700, 41.05.820