These three healthcare bills have passed in the State Senate, and are expected to be heard soon in the State House Health Care & Wellness Committee. These bills are contentious, so we need to make our voices heard to make sure they pass the House! More on each of the bills below.
SB 5068: Extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to one year
Postpartum Medicaid coverage currently ends 60 days after pregnancy, but the CDC says that pregnancy-related deaths occur up to one year postpartum. In Washington, nearly one-third of all pregnancy-related deaths occurred between 43 and 365 days postpartum. Let’s close that healthcare gap.
ACTION: Contact your state reps by commenting in support of SB 5068, here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5068
SB 5313: Prohibiting healthcare insurance discrimination in trans community seeking gender affirming treatment
It’s all in the title – this bill would prevent insurance from denying coverage for gender-affirming treatment when it has been prescribed. Trans rights are human rights!
ACTION: Contact your state reps by commenting in support of SB 5313, here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5313
SB 5140: Protecting pregnancy and miscarriage-related patient care.
Currently, some hospitals in WA prohibit their doctors from providing life-saving care for miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies for religious reasons. This is absurd and puts pregnant patients in danger – let’s put a stop to it.
ACTION: Contact your state reps by commenting in support of SB 5140, here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5140
