Call to Action!

Please support HB 1655 / SB 6161:  Concerning Provider Contract Compensation

Requires provider compensation increases commensurate with consumer price index increases for contracts between a health carrier and a health care provider who is not employed or affiliated with a hospital or large hospital system.

HB 1655 and SB 6161 provide a much-needed annual increase in reimbursement for private practices.

These bills are a first step in ensuring patients can access health care services from independent private practices.

Problem

• Some carriers have never raised their rates in their entire history of working with massage therapists of over 25+ years while others have only done so once or twice.
• Carriers claim that provider contracts are negotiated; but, independent providers and small clinics can only accept them or stop being a provider for them.

Action

• In the House: Before the end of day 1/23/24, contact your Representatives and ask them to support HB 1655.  
• • Contact your Representative at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1655  Please do not ask to testify, this is being coordinated by the lobbyists.
    
• In the Senate: As soon as you can, but before 1/30/24, contact your Senator and ask them to support SB 6161.  Tell them why it is important to you, your profession and your clients/patients.  If you are considering dropping your healthcare providership(s) for financial reasons, let them know (if you are considering dropping for other reasons as well, please leave that out of the discussion so as not to confuse things). 
• • Contact your Senator at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/6161 Please do not ask to testify, this is being coordinated by the lobbyists.
    

Level of Urgency

• Please reach out to your Representatives and Senator as soon as you read this article, time is very urgent as the deadlines to move things along in the legislature are fast approaching.
• If you know your Representatives or Senator personally, reach out directly via email or phone.

What Else Can You Do

• Reach out to your colleagues and let them know of the urgency of getting these bills passed.  The number of voices that legislators hear from is very important.

For Bill Details

• HB 1655 -- https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1655&Year=2023
• SB 6161 -- https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6161&Year=2023