HB 1578
In CommitteeHouse
Long-term care prg. repeal
Repealing the long-term care services and supports trust program.
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 repeals Washington’s Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (also known as the long-term care insurance program), ending premium collection, benefit payments, and related administrative structures. It also updates training and certification rules for long-term care workers and redirects investment income previously allocated to the trust account to other state funds.
- Repeals the entire Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (Chapter 50B.04 RCW), including all related statutes, administrative rules, and the trust account.
- Amends training requirements for long-term care workers (RCW 74.39A.076), removing specific training mandates previously tied to the trust program (e.g., for spouses/domestic partners providing care under the trust).
- Amends exemptions from certification (RCW 18.88B.041), removing the exemption for workers providing care to spouses or domestic partners under the trust program.
- Removes the long-term services and supports trust account from the list of accounts that receive investment earnings from the state treasurer’s trust fund (RCW 43.79A.040).
- Repeals the office of the state actuary’s duty to provide actuarial services to the long-term care trust commission (RCW 44.44.040).
- Sets an expiration date of July 1, 2030 for certain sections of the bill (specifically, Sections 3 and 4 of the act).
Who is affected
- Long-term care workers and individual providers — Workers who provide long-term care services (e.g., home care aides, individual providers) may no longer be required to meet certain training or certification requirements, especially those related to the former long-term care trust program, and may face changes in how their training is managed.
- Individuals receiving long-term care services — People who receive long-term care services (e.g., individuals with disabilities, older adults, veterans) may lose access to benefits and services previously available through the repealed trust program, and may see shifts in how care is funded or delivered.
- State agencies involved in long-term care administration — State agencies like the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Health Care Authority (HCA), and Employment Security Department (ESD) will no longer administer the long-term care trust program and may need to reallocate staff and resources.
- State retirees and participants in state benefit programs — Workers and retirees in the state’s retirement and insurance systems may be affected by changes to how investment income is distributed, particularly since the long-term services and supports trust account is removed from the list of accounts receiving earnings.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (3)
Ending premium deductions from paychecks eliminates a mandatory payroll deduction that many workers viewed as an additional tax with uncertain future benefit—providing immediate, though modest, take-home pay relief for affected workers.
FinancialRef: Repeal of RCW 50B.04.080 (premium assessment), RCW 50B.04.085 (premium exemptions), and RCW 50B.04.090 (self-employed election)Relieving certain family caregivers (e.g., spouses, domestic partners, close relatives) of mandatory training requirements reduces administrative burden and potential out-of-pocket costs for informal care arrangements, especially for those already providing care without compensation.
Business & EmploymentRef: Section 1 (amending RCW 74.39A.076), Section 2 (amending RCW 18.88B.041)Eliminating complex reporting and confidentiality obligations for long-term care workers reduces bureaucratic friction for those who previously navigated overlapping state and federal compliance requirements.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Repeal of RCW 50B.04.170 (confidentiality provisions) and RCW 50B.04.180 (out-of-state reporting)
Potential Concerns (5)
Removal of mandatory training requirements for spouses/domestic partners providing long-term care eliminates a baseline quality and safety standard for home-based care, potentially increasing risk of harm to vulnerable recipients (e.g., individuals with disabilities or dementia) who rely on informal caregivers without formal oversight.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Section 1 (amending RCW 74.39A.076), Section 2 (amending RCW 18.88B.041)Redirecting investment income previously dedicated to the long-term care trust account to the state general fund eliminates a dedicated revenue stream for future long-term care services, increasing pressure on general fund resources and reducing program predictability for low- and middle-income Washingtonians who depend on public long-term care support.
FinancialPeopleRef: Section 3 & 4 (reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040), removing 'long-term services and supports trust account' from list of accounts receiving investment earningsEliminating actuarial oversight of the long-term care trust program removes a layer of fiscal accountability and long-term planning capacity, increasing risk of future budget crises or service gaps if demand for long-term care rises unexpectedly.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section 5 (amending RCW 44.44.040), removing duty to provide actuarial services to the long-term care trust commissionEnding premium collection eliminates a pay-as-you-go funding mechanism that allowed working-age adults to build future eligibility—disadvantaging those who planned ahead for long-term care needs but now face abrupt loss of coverage pathways.
FinancialPeopleRef: Repeal of RCW 50B.04.085 (premium exemptions) and RCW 50B.04.090 (self-employed election), among othersWhile the bill removes a training requirement for certain family caregivers, it does not replace it with equivalent oversight or support—potentially undermining informed consent and autonomy for individuals receiving care who may not have capacity to assess caregiver competence.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Section 1 (amending RCW 74.39A.076), removing specific training exemption for spouses/domestic partners under the trust program
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income individuals needing long-term care (e.g., older adults, people with disabilities) are most negatively affected: they lose access to a dedicated, modest benefit that could have supplemented family care or reduced reliance on institutional care. Without this program, many will face unaffordable out-of-pocket costs or gaps in care coverage.
Family caregivers (especially spouses and domestic partners) who previously received structured training under the trust program may benefit from reduced regulatory burden, but lose access to standardized training and potential credentialing pathways that could support career advancement or quality assurance.
State agencies (DSHS, HCA, ESD) benefit from reduced administrative burden and staffing needs, but may face longer-term strain as they absorb demand previously managed by the trust program—especially in coordinating care for vulnerable populations with limited alternatives.
The state general fund receives redirected investment income, improving short-term budget flexibility, but this creates a structural deficit over time as long-term care demand grows—ultimately forcing future legislatures to choose between cutting other services or raising taxes.
Private long-term care insurers and employers offering supplemental coverage may see increased demand as public options shrink, but the repeal eliminates a public-private partnership that helped stabilize risk pools and expand coverage access for lower-income workers.