HB 1577
In CommitteeHouse
Palliative care/volunteer
Concerning the provision of palliative care services by volunteer organizations that provide hospice care without compensation.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a work group to design a standardized palliative care benefit and payment model for commercial health plans, while ensuring volunteer hospice organizations can continue providing palliative care without meeting standard licensing or benefit requirements. It also includes specific provisions to support coordination across state health programs.
- Create a work group to design a palliative care benefit and payment model for fully insured health plans, coordinating with Medicaid and state employee health programs.
- Require the work group to consider clinical eligibility, covered services, staffing models, evaluation criteria, and payment structures.
- Explicitly allow volunteer hospice organizations (that provide care without compensation under RCW 70.127.050) to offer palliative care without needing a license or meeting standard benefit requirements.
- Include diverse stakeholders in the work group—such as insurers, health agencies, providers, patient advocates, and representatives from volunteer hospice groups.
- Set a deadline for the work group to report recommendations to the legislature by November 1, 2025, and require a first meeting by July 30, 2024.
Who is affected
- Volunteer hospice organizations — Volunteer hospice organizations that provide care without compensation (as defined in RCW 70.127.050) gain explicit permission to offer palliative care services without needing to meet standard licensing or benefit requirements.
- Health insurers and state health programs — Commercial and Medicaid health insurers, state employee health plans, and Medicaid managed care organizations will be involved in developing a new palliative care benefit and payment model.
- Patients with serious illness and their families — Patients with serious illnesses and their families may gain improved access to palliative care services, especially through volunteer providers.
- Health care providers and program leaders — Health care providers—including physicians, nurses, and operational leaders in hospice and palliative care—will help design standards and service models for palliative care delivery.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
The bill explicitly preserves and expands the ability of volunteer hospice organizations to provide palliative care without licensing barriers — directly supporting community-based, low-cost care for seriously ill individuals who may not qualify for or afford formal hospice services.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)By requiring inclusion of a representative from a volunteer hospice organization and mandating coordination with Medicaid and state employee health programs, the bill promotes integration of volunteer-based care into broader health systems — increasing access for low-income and elderly patients who rely on public or mixed financing.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (4)(n)The work group is required to consider clinical eligibility, staffing models, evaluation criteria, and payment structures — laying groundwork for standardized, evidence-based palliative care coverage that could reduce disparities in access and improve symptom management for patients across socioeconomic lines.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(i)-(v)The work group includes diverse stakeholders — including patient advocates, clinicians, insurers, and volunteer providers — ensuring that design of the palliative care benefit reflects real-world needs and avoids over-indexing on payer or institutional interests.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a)-(n)
Potential Concerns (4)
The bill explicitly allows volunteer hospice organizations to provide palliative care without licensing or benefit requirements, which could reduce oversight and quality control — potentially exposing vulnerable patients to unregulated or substandard care if volunteers lack training or supervision.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)By exempting volunteer hospice organizations from licensing and benefit requirements, the bill may create a two-tiered system where care quality varies significantly depending on provider type, undermining consistency and equity in access to high-quality palliative care.
HealthcareRef: Sec. 1(2)(b)The work group’s mandate ends with a report to the legislature by November 1, 2025, with no enforcement mechanism or implementation timeline — meaning outcomes are uncertain and dependent on future legislative action, potentially delaying tangible benefits for years.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(5)The work group is tasked with designing payment models, but the bill does not specify how those models will ensure fair reimbursement for providers — risking underpayment to clinicians and organizations that serve high-need, low-income patients.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(v)
Who Is Most Affected
Volunteer hospice organizations gain explicit legal authorization to provide palliative care without licensing or benefit requirements — expanding their scope of service and reducing regulatory burden.
Commercial insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations will help design a new benefit but may face future pressure to cover palliative care — potentially increasing costs unless payment models are carefully structured.
Patients with serious illness — especially low-income, elderly, or rural residents — may gain improved access to palliative care through volunteer providers, but outcomes depend on whether new standards ensure quality and equity.
Clinicians and program leaders gain a seat at the table in shaping palliative care standards — but may face new administrative or compliance burdens if recommendations are implemented without adequate support.
State agencies (OIC, HCA, DSHS, DOH) will bear coordination and administrative costs, but may benefit from improved interoperability and reduced duplication across programs.