This bill introduces a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW aimed at ensuring access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services for public employees and their dependents. It defines "contractor" as a health carrier or third-party administrator providing medical insurance under this chapter. The bill mandates that hospitals receiving payments through programs administered by the authority must contract with contractors upon a good faith offer, with specific exceptions for hospitals owned by health maintenance organizations. It establishes reimbursement limits for various healthcare services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital services, primary care, and behavioral health services, with different rates set for specialty hospitals and rural hospitals.

Additionally, the bill outlines requirements for contractors regarding reimbursement rates, which will gradually decrease over time, starting from 200% of Medicare rates in 2027 to 190% by 2029 for most services. It allows for alternative payment methodologies that incentivize quality care and mandates that premiums reflect changes in reimbursement rates. The authority is tasked with monitoring the impacts of these changes and must report to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2030, analyzing the effects on network access, enrollee costs, and state expenditures. The authority is also empowered to adopt rules for enforcement and compliance with the new provisions.