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Bill would let Washington Health Benefit Exchange set market‑factor certification criteria; insurers warn of unintended consequences
Summary
House Bill 2564 would allow the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to adopt annual market‑factor certification criteria to address access and affordability, including requiring carriers to offer plans in underserved counties and ensuring availability of bronze plans. The Exchange and consumer advocates support the measure; insurers and hospitals seek clarifications and timing amendments.
House Bill 2564, "Safeguarding Access and Affordability for Exchange Customers," was the other major bill the committee heard Jan. 28. Kim Weidner (staff) and later Ingrid Ulrey, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, outlined the proposal which would let the exchange annually review market conditions and adopt market‑factor certification criteria to address county‑level access and affordability shortfalls.
"This bill will enable our bipartisan board of directors to establish new access and affordability criteria, assess market conditions each year, and then apply one or more of these criteria as needed," said Ingrid Ulrey, noting the change is intended to respond to federal policy shifts — including HR1 and the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits — that have driven…
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