The bill aims to update and modernize the Washington state health plan by amending several sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and creating a new section. It emphasizes the need for a sustainable state health plan and resource strategy, which includes improving access to affordable health care, enhancing the quality of care, and controlling health care costs. The Office of Financial Management is tasked with developing a statewide health resources strategy that will guide health planning policies and goals, taking into account health equity and the needs of various geographic regions. The bill also mandates the Department of Health to analyze the certificate of need program and report its findings by June 30, 2025.

Key amendments include the replacement of "psychiatric" with "behavioral health" in the definition of health facilities, and the introduction of new responsibilities for the Office of Financial Management, such as accessing data from the all-payer claims database and other relevant health authorities. The timeline for submitting the preliminary and completed health resources strategy reports has been adjusted, with the preliminary report due by July 1, 2026, and the completed report by December 31, 2027. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the department of health may not adopt rules in response to the strategy issued in 2027, ensuring that the focus remains on the strategic planning and resource allocation outlined in the updated health plan.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.370.010, 43.370.020, 43.370.030
Substitute Bill: 43.370.010, 43.370.020, 43.370.030
Bill as Passed Legislature: 43.370.010, 43.370.020, 43.370.030, 43.370.040
Session Law: 43.370.010, 43.370.020, 43.370.030, 43.370.040