[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345221,"mediaKeyId","2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f","parentId",2249470,"title","Committee hears bill to require full employer-paid health benefits for injured workers","audioSeconds",445,"startMs",512000,"endMs",957000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f&start=512&end=957","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f/thumbnail_512000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345221/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-full-employer-paid-health-benefits-for-injured-workers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345221-671ef26f0eff974719a2772b18ba01be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770741512&Signature=W3M1iHlsquGarQmP0qKy~tRaMDe4hXDjqLfdoOmrYtpkDHW5nwvFuxy8hxRja2wwbNEwfSpwImloQ1nG0KMNKuXqPd8YkD2LZeH8t3htLcEQtjZPtlDpD3pzdY7lvD9Cf9k-EfwmkGzqv-iNCWwTUXGOZoWtcTWvT3g~IAxZ~FCjfmEelNHck2OZFvrVvtcYAuYh4AnUtQpnhTIw9YC59XlrMVYefh00Z8cmF~Lle0jfmhajy2SFJNvsVDP4hDbXlcNsLiEYY3ZHXesr4~YFdub8XbVZWYxk4VYt~nAjiUl0quKelHORWkzDR2kyVTy0upEdp8mkk8wS3c7ljy6vEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Labor & Commerce","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Labor & Commerce held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5,548, a measure sponsored by Senator Shoemake that would change how health-care premiums are treated in Washington’s workers’ compensation time‑loss benefits and adjust the percentage schedule used for permanent total disability wage replacement.

The bill would require that, for claims filed on or after July 1, 2026, the employer’s entire contribution for healthcare benefits be included in the worker’s workers’ compensation payments. The bill also alters the current schedule of percentage wage replacement—keeping the base at 60% for unmarried workers with no dependents and raising some steps so that single parents receive parity with married workers; supporters said detailed tables in the bill report show the before-and-after effect.

Why it matters: Supporters said losing employer‑paid health insurance while recovering from an on‑the‑job injury can worsen medical outcomes and financial instability for families. \"Losing your health care in the middle of a health episode is not ideal,\" Senator Shoemake said during her testimony, arguing the change would let injured workers and their families maintain continuity of care. Labor unions and worker advocates told the committee the bill would limit reliance on COBRA or uninsured care and would particularly help single parents.

Proponents: Representatives of building and construction trades and labor unions described cases where injured workers’ families lost coverage. Ray Dumas of Operative Plasters and Cement Masons Local 528 told the committee that time‑loss payments leave workers with partial wage replacement and can cause a loss of health insurance. Rachel Hammar of the Washington State Association for Justice and Joe Kendall of the Washington State Labor Council urged passage, saying the full value of insurance should be applied to time‑loss benefits so families can continue treatment during recovery. \"This will help injured workers heal and get back to work quicker,\" Kendall said.

Opponents and concerns: Small business and industry groups raised implementation concerns. Patrick Connor of NFIB warned the committee the bill, as written, could discourage small employers from offering health insurance and suggested the insurance payment should be routed directly from L&I to the employer, the insurance trust, or the insurer rather than sent to the injured worker. Carolyn Logue of Associated Builders and Contractors and Lauren Gubbi of AGC asked for protections to ensure payments result in the actual purchase of insurance and expressed concern about fairness across employers with differing plan costs. Several business witnesses also raised questions about attorney fees and whether the health‑insurance component could become part of an attorney fee calculation.

Process and fiscal: A fiscal note was requested for SB 5,548 but was not available at the hearing. Committee members encouraged proponents and opponents to submit written comments for staff review.

Public testimony and record: The committee clerk reported 269 pro, 47 con and 3 other pieces of testimony on the bill at the close of the public‑testimony period.

Where it goes next: No executive action on SB 5,548 was recorded in the transcript of this session; the hearing record will inform future consideration.

Ending: Committee members thanked witnesses and moved on to other agenda items. The bill remains under consideration pending fiscal analysis and further negotiation on implementation details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Labor & Commerce - 2/7/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Labor & Commerce held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5,548, a measure sponsored by Senator Shoemake that would require employers to pay 100% of their contribution for health insurance when an injured worker’s employer‑sponsored coverage is cut and would alter the percentage wage‑replacement schedule for workers’ compensation benefits.","taxTitle","Labor & Commerce, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20507,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345216,"Labor & Industries presents PTSD claims data and prevention efforts to committee",2619,2024000,4643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f&start=2024&end=4643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f/thumbnail_2024000.jpg","/articles/6345216/Washington/Labor-Industries-presents-PTSD-claims-data-and-prevention-efforts-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345216-dc4e1be0a4d69a5b2a0489b717b12324/orig.mp4?Expires=1770741512&Signature=iEUFjtnE5qVSgzicYYEkq-HSQ6uEOWACUswWqNG~psufXdSNFgUaF-9WzUZpKYJpz2umzqI3UqOKWtZ2FRw9a4BLICvBqywB~o33-xAYcz7uAV9xcmhatfw~cPSqeecRXMd7UUbf473ynQvyk7bvdcQCTPKo5L8n70nN6PJ2RuqtssMkh17-z0vOX~Ramo5eTqBvGlr~~INL6I-H4D2g3kp1Te6t4cW3sBg1JsleNzOK2rM-tR3vW6kdet0Iqz2~p7ySZMG1c1Qzr69c-eJ6wAYnDV4amV6qGQe3ZtE3tfQKI7ZTMVc1cHYXjLnf7WcpqzPG1W-ou2m6oPNsDoeCwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Labor and Industries (L&I) presented a work session to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims in Washington’s workers’ compensation system, detailing claim volumes, cost patterns and ongoing prevention and clinical‑guideline work.

Brenda Heilman, assistant director for the workers’ compensation program at L&I, and Dr. Dave Bonnato, research director for the SHARP prevention program, told the committee that PTSD claims—particularly those filed by firefighters and law‑enforcement officers under statutory presumptions—have driven a substantial share of claim costs in the affected risk classes.

Key findings presented:
- Presumptive coverage: Washington law creates an occupational disease presumption for firefighters, law‑enforcement officers and certain emergency responders in specific circumstances; direct‑care registered nurses were added to presumption coverage in 2023 with a 90‑day work requirement.
- Claim volume and disposition: Since the presumption’s 2018 start, PTSD claims rose and peaked around 2021; through September of the presentation year L&I reported 435 PTSD claims at the State Fund and 280 at self‑insured employers across covered job classes. State Fund and self‑insured PTSD claims were allowed at roughly an 80% rate with about 20% denied or pending.
- Costs and outcomes: L&I’s analysis showed average costs for compensable PTSD claims and pensions were substantially higher than average State Fund claims. L&I reported that about one in five PTSD claims for firefighters and law enforcement result in pension—much higher than typical claim pension rates—raising concerns about long‑term disability and system sustainability. The department presented examples: a medical‑only PTSD claim averaged about $24,000, while compensable PTSD claims and pensions averaged substantially higher (figures updated internally by L&I's actuarial team).
- Rate impacts: PTSD claim costs increased the premium rates for certain risk classes; L&I noted that firefighters’ and law‑enforcement officers’ premium rates rose substantially in recent years (examples cited: historic increases of roughly 65% for firefighters and 80% for law enforcement in the period covered), and staff said the committee capped some risk‑class increases at 15% to limit immediate premium shock and socialize costs where appropriate.

Prevention and next steps: Dr. Bonnato described prevention tiers—primary (reduce exposure), secondary (rapid identification and treatment) and tertiary (rehabilitation and return‑to‑work)—and noted evidence on some previously used approaches (for example, critical incident stress debriefing) is mixed or may be harmful if misapplied. L&I described workstreams begun under recent legislation (including HB 2311) to develop peer‑support programs, clinical guidelines (via the Industrial Insurance Medical Advisory Committee), and pilot efforts to improve outcomes and reduce long‑term disability. L&I staff said they will continue to study other jurisdictions’ approaches and flagged the need for better access to mental‑health providers and clearer clinical guidance.

Questions from committee members focused on how rate changes are socialized across the State Fund, the connection between pension costs and overall system sustainability, the prevalence of claims among newly covered occupations (registered nurses), and how employers and peer‑support systems can intervene earlier to prevent long‑term disability. Chair Saldanha and several senators asked L&I to provide more detailed actuarial and rate‑setting information in a follow‑up briefing.

Ending: L&I concluded that PTSD claims have concentrated costs in particular occupational risk classes and that the agency will pursue prevention, clinical guidance and data review to improve outcomes and inform future policy decisions. Committee members signaled interest in a follow‑up presentation with additional actuarial and investment‑return context.","Labor and Industries told the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee that PTSD claims—especially presumptive claims for firefighters and law‑enforcement officers—have produced disproportionately high claim and pension costs, and the agency outlined prevention work and requests for further actuarial analysis.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345212,"Committee advances a package of bills; several proposed substitutes adopted",563,5201000,5764000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f&start=5201&end=5764","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249470-18e1030ca988ebb5e9d632ed22a2247f/thumbnail_5201000.jpg","/articles/6345212/Washington/Committee-advances-a-package-of-bills-several-proposed-substitutes-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345212-c2db542d888412f226736b511056063f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770741512&Signature=EyQzyBSZZbhaWXm7pd0pvjCZWDTk4PdvnX1QyXthjq~4WDxTcNK0Yzadvnp78figffcgIby27kkoirxnc7oCkkpQXW~zl30ygCb-GnllhPuIGYM9bEPESab5TCaTa00cl3jG61wGfnO5jO~aGuxWTXBHzZ4egS1WCo~DHHrwmTOH6~WrJ7lPxbRGFHpl2vxsYs9tSsTOBA~DkQ~GHb~uV~TI7Dft7UEQoLUmsXIpn~NkpYfDeUZ-z0CqtiMfMMxDDqUxVELt5U1wGahpI9lytw5jFLN4dOWvITGqkE5KzZ-qoDtq7YHTgJV7lubTqkdw-S1Ma1hm-c4TV4m0G3cdhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee met in executive session and advanced a number of bills after adopting proposed substitutes and taking committee recommendations.

What the committee did:
- Adopted Saldanha’s proposed substitute on Senate Bill 52‑65 (expanded allowance for some out‑of‑state electrical inspector experience under reciprocity rules) and sent the bill forward with a due‑pass recommendation to Rules.
- Passed Senate Bill 5,090 (professional engineers) with a due‑pass recommendation to Rules.
- Passed Senate Bill 5,381 (self‑insured withdrawal authority for L&I) with a due‑pass recommendation to Rules.
- Adopted a proposed substitute (Ramos) for Senate Bill 5,433 (collective bargaining for DOC employees) and sent it with a due‑pass recommendation to Ways & Means.
- Adopted and amended the proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5,400 (Washington local news journalism core program) and discussed fiscal implications; the bill was reported out for further budget consideration.
- Adopted Saldanha’s proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5,336 (isolated employee enforcement, panic buttons), which included an updated effective date and authority for L&I to collect unpaid citations; committee record shows an updated partial fiscal note of $938,000 in costs to L&I for the 2025‑27 biennium (accident and medical aid accounts).
- Adopted a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5,408 (salary and wage disclosure/job‑posting corrections) with agreed language and sent the bill forward.

Procedural notes: Several actions were approved by voice vote (“all in favor say aye; opposed say nay”). The transcript records the committee chair and various senators moving and seconding motions, but does not include a roll‑call tally for each vote. One bill read earlier in the meeting, Senate Bill 53‑30 (drug testing devices and related amendments), was pulled from the executive agenda and will be taken up at a later date.

Fiscal and follow‑up items: The committee noted potential fiscal effects on proposals that would change surcharge and funding mechanisms (for example, the journalism funding substitute discussed a potential new surcharge on large internet platforms and the committee will refer funding questions to budget staff). Committee members also asked staff to prepare follow‑up materials where indicated (for example, additional actuarial detail requested from L&I during the work session).","During executive session the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee adopted proposed substitutes and sent multiple bills forward with recommendations to Rules or to Ways & Means. Several bills were approved subject to signatures after voice votes; one item (SB 5330) was pulled for later consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to require full employer-paid health benefits for injured workers

Labor & Industries presents PTSD claims data and prevention efforts to committee

Committee advances a package of bills; several proposed substitutes adopted