This bill introduces a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW that prohibits health carriers acting as third-party administrators for self-insured plans from imposing certain contracting practices. Specifically, it states that these health carriers cannot require state-owned or operated hospital systems to participate in any commercial health plan or product as a condition for negotiating or participating in the self-funded plan offered to public employees.

The bill aims to protect public employees' access to self-funded health plans by ensuring that state hospital systems are not coerced into participating in commercial health plans as a prerequisite for their involvement. The definition of "health carrier" is aligned with the existing definition in RCW 48.43.005, maintaining consistency within the legal framework.