Committee hears support and operational concerns for hospital flu-vaccine offer bill

House Bill 2,122 was introduced to the committee with staff outlining that, beginning July 1, 2027, hospitals would be required to offer influenza vaccination each October through March to two inpatient groups: people aged 65 and older and inpatients with one or more chronic health conditions unless contraindicated. Offers must align with ACIP recommendations and depend on vaccine availability.

Representative Levitt, the bill’s prime sponsor, emphasized the measure is an offer rather than a mandate to be accepted or refused. She said recent increases in influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths — and evidence that vaccination reduces severity — motivated the bill to create an opportunistic access point for vulnerable patients prior to discharge.

Public testimony included clinical and patient-advocacy support. Infectious-disease physician Josh Hill and representatives of diabetes advocacy groups said older adults and people with chronic conditions face higher risks of severe influenza and urged passage. Tom Boyer noted the bill carried no fiscal note. AARP’s Kathy McCall described high state flu death counts among people 65 and older and urged support.

Opposition and amendment requests came from Informed Choice Washington, which questioned the need for the bill and suggested including a federally required Vaccine Information Statement with each offer. The Washington State Hospital Association supported the policy goal but described the bill as an unfunded mandate: hospitals would need to buy, store and track vaccine inventory, purchase refrigeration and pay staff time for administration and paperwork; Katie Cohen said existing CMS policy pushes vaccination into outpatient settings and said the bill should include practical operational exceptions and funding.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2,122. Sponsors indicated they have worked with hospitals on amendments to address operational concerns.