The proposed bill establishes the Essential Worker Health Care Program in Washington, aimed at addressing the workforce crisis in nursing homes, where many workers are older women, women of color, and immigrants living near poverty. The program intends to provide high-quality, affordable health coverage to nursing home workers through participating employers. To facilitate this, the bill mandates increased funding for nursing home operators who commit to offering such health care, encourages cost-effective health care solutions, and ensures that appropriated funds supplement existing health care funding rather than replace it.

Key provisions include the establishment of a new section in chapter 43.20A RCW that outlines the program's requirements, such as the need for nursing home employers to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department, participate in a qualified health fund, and maintain spending on employee health care benefits. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section in chapter 48.02 RCW that details the certification process for qualified health funds and the enforcement actions the insurance commissioner can take against noncompliant funds. The implementation of the program is contingent upon federal approval for financial participation, with specific timelines and recoupment processes established for any supplemental payments made prior to such approval.