WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5845

SB 5845: Health carrier payments

Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers.

Summary

  • Requires health carriers to pay or deny a clean claim from a participating provider, participating facility, or Indian health care provider within 30 days.
  • Requires health carriers to send a notice explaining a denial or a request for additional information for claims from participating providers or facilities that are not clean, within 21 days.
  • Reduces the period of time in which health carriers may request refunds of claims payments from health care providers from 24 months for most claims to 12 months, subject to some exceptions.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5845), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 158, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 2, 2026
  3. Passed SenateFeb 11, 2026
  4. Passed HouseMar 5, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 23, 2026
  6. LawMar 23, 2026
Prime sponsor
Vandana Slatter (D-48)
Introduced
January 12, 2026 in the Senate
Last action
March 23, 2026
Session law
Chapter 158, Laws of 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5845, SSB 5845, ESSB 5845

AN ACT Relating to modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Vandana Slatter (D-48)

9 co-sponsors (7 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

Ron Muzzall R-10Mike Chapman D-24Paul Harris R-17Marcus Riccelli D-3Annette Cleveland D-49Bob Hasegawa D-11Deborah Krishnadasan D-26T'wina Nobles D-28Javier Valdez D-46

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 11, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5845
48 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29001
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (48)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 5, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5845
95 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican37002
How each member voted

Yea (95)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 9, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5845
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026*. (ESSB 5845)
  2. Chapter 158, 2026 Laws. (ESSB 5845)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5845)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5845)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5845)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5845)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5845)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5845)
  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5845)
  10. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (ESSB 5845)
  11. Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3. (ESSB 5845)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5845)
  13. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Health Care & Wellness. (ESSB 5845)
  14. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5845)
  15. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5845)
  16. Referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5845)
  17. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5845)
  18. HCW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5845)
  19. HCW - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5845)
  20. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (ESSB 5845)
  21. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5845)
  22. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5845)
  23. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5845)
  24. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5845)
  25. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  26. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5845)
  27. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  28. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5845)
  29. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  30. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5845)
  31. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  32. First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
  33. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5845 in other sessions

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

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