WA People
BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SSB 5300

SB 5300: Behavioral health continuity

Concerning continuity of coverage for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of behavioral health conditions.

Summary

  • Prohibits health carriers and their health care benefit managers from requiring substitution of a prescribed nonpreferred drug with a preferred drug or increasing an enrollee's cost sharing obligation when the prescription is for a refill of an antipsychotic, antidepressant, or antiepileptic drug, or any other drug prescribed to treat a serious mental illness.
  • Adds other drugs prescribed to treat serious mental illness to the drugs for which a pharmacist may not substitute a nonpreferred drug with a preferred drug for state purchased health care programs.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SSB 5300), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 325, Laws of 2023
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2023
  2. Out of committeeFeb 10, 2023
  3. Passed SenateMar 1, 2023
  4. Passed HouseApr 6, 2023
  5. GovernorMay 4, 2023
  6. LawMay 4, 2023
Prime sponsor
Manka Dhingra (D-45)
Introduced
January 12, 2023 in the Senate
Last action
May 4, 2023
Session law
Chapter 325, Laws of 2023
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5300, SSB 5300

AN ACT Relating to continuity of coverage for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of behavioral health conditions;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Manka Dhingra (D-45)

17 co-sponsors (16 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Andy Billig D-3Annette Cleveland D-49Noel Frame D-36Bob Hasegawa D-11Senator D-22Karen Keiser D-33Patty Kuderer D-48Liz Lovelett D-40Joe Nguyen D-34T'wina Nobles D-28Emily Randall D-26Senator R-18June Robinson D-38Sharon Shewmake D-42Javier Valdez D-46Lisa Wellman D-41Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 1, 2023
Version voted on: SSB 5300
46 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat27002
Republican19001
How each member voted

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 6, 2023
Version voted on: SSB 5300
98 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58000
Republican40000
How each member voted

Yea (98)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 17, 2023
Version voted on: SSB 5300
48 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican19001
How each member voted

Yea (48)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/23/2023*. (SSB 5300)
  2. Chapter 325, 2023 Laws. (SSB 5300)
  3. Governor signed. (SSB 5300)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (SSB 5300)
  5. Speaker signed. (SSB 5300)
  6. President signed. (SSB 5300)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SSB 5300)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (SSB 5300)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SSB 5300)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5300)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (SSB 5300)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5300)
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SSB 5300)
  14. HCW - Executive action taken by committee. (SSB 5300)
  15. HCW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Health Care & Wellness. (SSB 5300)
  16. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (SSB 5300)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 46; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3. (SSB 5300)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5300)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5300)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5300)
  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5300)
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5300)
  26. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  27. First reading, referred to Health & Long Term Care.

SB 5300 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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