AAPPN lobbied for a number of bills during the 2023 legislative session.
Many were signed into law. Some will have to wait another year.
AAPPN’s Legislative Committee and our lobbyist, Devon Connor-Green, had a busy winter, advocating for a number of bills impacting our profession.
AAPPN supported a number of bills which were passed by both houses and signed into law by the Governor, including:
- SHB 1281 Increasing access to the provisions of the Washington death with dignity act
- SB 5300 Concerning continuity of coverage for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of behavioral health conditions
- SB 5036 Concerning telemedicine
- SB 5120 Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state
- SHB 1255 Reducing stigma and incentivizing health care professionals to participate in a substance use disorder monitoring and treatment program
- E2SHB 1515 Concerning contracting and procurement requirements for behavioral health services in medical assistance programs
In addition to our legislative successes, volunteers are working this summer to increase legislator awareness regarding conditions at Western State Hospital. Nikki Behner and Kristine Highlander will be meeting with Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45th) in July to discuss a number of concerns.
Not all of our legislative priorities became law. SB 5373 Requiring equal reimbursement for advanced registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians, was passed out of the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care but did not make it through the Senate Committee on Ways & Means. We will continue to work with our fellow stakeholders to advance the bill in the 2024 session.
Our thanks to our committee volunteers: Nikki Behner, Piper Buersmeyer, David Falikovici, Kristine Highlander, Candace Mabbitt, Patricia Morgan, Graham Patrick, and Mishele Rutherford.