Calling all LMTs: Please contact your Legislators to support ESSB 5845 for more timely insurance payouts and notification of billing issues as well as to reduce the time insurance carriers have to take back previous payments (aka "clawbacks").

Things are coming down to the wire on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5845:

• it has until Friday March 6 to pass out of the House or it dies.  
• It has until Friday March 13 to be re-voted on the Senate Floor or it dies.

Even if you are not an insurance provider, we need everyone's support for this bill to get it over the finish line.

ESSB 5845 has had bipartisan support with unanimous votes in the State Senate and in the State House Appropriations Committee.  We need your voices to show support for this bill to make it over the final humps -- it's sooooo close.

What can you do to help this process, right now?

Contact your House Representatives and Senator and tell them about the need 

• If you already have a personal relationship with your Representatives and Senator, reach out to them.  Ask them to support ESSB 5845 and vote yes on it.  The details about the bill are below.
• If you don’t know your House Representatives or Senator, find them by clicking on the link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5845 and type in your home address.
• WSMTA asks that you click on the button for “Support” after you fill in your contact information. 
• You can tell your House Representatives and Senator why this bill is important to you or you can copy in the short memo below and personalize it as you will.

What to say or write about ESSB 5845:

Support ESSB 5845

I am writing to request your support for ESSB 5845--Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers. This bipartisan bill is important to health care providers, including massage therapists. It strengthens timely reimbursement standards and reduces the period during which insurers may recoup previously paid claims. These changes promote predictability, fairness, financial stability and reduces administrative burden for both providers and insurers across Washington.

Massage therapists who accept insurance typically operate solo practices or work in small clinics with limited reserves. When insurers pay late, do not provide information about unclean bills in a reasonable time period, or demand repayment for services rendered up to 24 months earlier, it becomes difficult to focus on patient care. For massage therapists and other small outpatient providers, even a single multi-visit clawback can significantly disrupt cash flow. Shortening the clawback window to 12 months from 24 months (when a single insurance carrier is involved) improves financial predictability, encourages timely claim review, and reduces the administrative burden of reconstructing records years later.

ESSB 5845 passed the House Appropriations Committee unanimously. The fiscal note shows no impact to the state general fund, as costs are supported through the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Regulatory Account.

Please support ESSB 5845. Thank you.

What is ESSB 5845 -- Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers?

• Requires health insurance carriers to pay 100% of “clean claims” from providers or facilities within 30 days, instead of only 95%.
• Requires carriers to notify providers or facilities within 21 days if a claim is denied or if claims are not clean.
• Reduces the time insurers can request "clawbacks" for claims from 24 months to 12 months when only one insurance carrier is involved, with limited exceptions.
• When more than one insurance carrier is involved and they need to coordinate claims, they must request refunds in writing within 18 months of the original payment (previously 30 months), except in cases involving mental health services or fraud.
• Removes ambiguity by creating definitions.

Level of urgency:

Please reach out to your House Representatives as soon as you read this article, time is very urgent as we only have until the end of day Friday March 6 to get this bill out of the House and back to the Senate.

What else can you do?

Reach out to your colleagues, regardless of profession, and let them know of the urgency of getting this bill passed. The number of voices that legislators hear from is very important.

Please support ESSB 5845 create better regulations around the payments to providers and facilities.  Thank you!

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession.  We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.