The proposed bill establishes the Medicaid Access Program in Washington State, aimed at improving healthcare access for Medicaid enrollees. It introduces new chapters to Title 74 and Title 48 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which include definitions, assessments, and fund management related to the program. A key feature of the bill is the requirement for health carriers and Medicaid managed care organizations to pay an annual covered lives assessment to fund increased reimbursement rates for healthcare services that are currently undercompensated compared to Medicare rates. The bill also creates a Medicaid Access Program account to manage these funds and mandates that professional service rates be increased uniformly based on available funds by a specified deadline.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law regarding the treasury income account, ensuring that no appropriation is needed for payments to financial institutions and that these payments will occur before the distribution of earnings. It adds the Medicaid Access Program account to the list of accounts receiving earnings and emphasizes the immediate necessity of its provisions for public health and safety, allowing for immediate effect upon passage. The act will expire if federal approval for state plan amendments is not obtained by January 1, 2027, and includes a provision that nullifies the act if specific funding is not allocated by June 30, 2025. The bill has received strong legislative support, having passed both the House and Senate and been approved by the Governor.