HB 2568
In CommitteeHouse
Prosthetics/public employees
Extending coverage of prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces to public and school employees.
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 expands required coverage for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces to all health plans offered to public and school employees in Washington State, ensuring consistent access to these devices across all state-administered plans. It does so by requiring all such plans to follow existing state laws that mandate coverage for these items.
- Requires all state-offered health plans—including those not regulated under Title 48 RCW—to comply with state laws mandating coverage for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces.
- Extends existing coverage requirements (previously applied to some plans) to all health plans offered under Chapter 41.05 RCW, which covers state and local government and school employee health benefits.
- Incorporates by reference a long list of specific statutes (e.g., RCW 48.43.500, 48.43.505–535, etc.) that define and regulate coverage for prosthetics and orthotics, ensuring consistent application across plans.
- Reenacts and amends RCW 41.05.017 to explicitly include prosthetics and orthotics coverage as a required benefit.
Who is affected
- Public and school employees — Public employees (e.g., state, county, city, and other government workers) and school district employees who receive health benefits through state-administered plans may gain access to coverage for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces, which may previously have been excluded or limited.
- Health insurers and plan administrators — Health insurers and plan administrators offering coverage to public and school employees must now comply with state laws requiring coverage of prosthetics and orthotics, potentially increasing administrative and coverage costs.
- Individuals needing prosthetics or orthotics — Employees who use or need prosthetic limbs or custom orthotic braces (e.g., due to injury, illness, or disability) may benefit from improved access and reduced out-of-pocket costs for these medical devices.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Ensures consistent, comprehensive coverage for prosthetics and orthotics across all public and school employee health plans, eliminating prior inconsistencies where some plans excluded or limited coverage — directly benefiting employees with disabilities or limb loss by reducing financial and access barriers to essential medical devices.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1 (incorporating by reference RCW 48.43.500–550, 48.43.732, 48.43.840, 48.43.845, etc.)Reduces out-of-pocket costs for employees needing prosthetics or orthotics, which improves affordability and adherence to prescribed treatment — especially beneficial for lower-income public employees who might otherwise delay or forgo care due to cost.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (‘savings could occur from reduced out-of-pocket costs for employees and potentially improved workforce health and productivity’)Improves functional independence and safety for employees with limb loss or mobility impairments, potentially reducing workplace injuries and enabling continued employment — especially important for first responders, teachers, and other public-sector workers who rely on physical capacity.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1 (requiring all plans under Chapter 41.05 RCW to comply with state coverage mandates)While employer costs may rise modestly, the bill avoids imposing new administrative burdens beyond aligning existing coverage — and the cost increase is likely offset by improved workforce retention and reduced disability-related absenteeism.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (‘state and local employers may face slightly higher health plan costs’)Strengthens equitable access to essential medical technology for people with disabilities, reinforcing the right to full participation in employment and civic life — aligning with Washington’s anti-discrimination principles under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (reenacting and amending RCW 41.05.017 to explicitly include prosthetics and orthotics as required benefits)
Potential Concerns (1)
Expands required coverage for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces to all state-administered health plans, which improves access and reduces out-of-pocket costs for employees who need these devices — particularly those with disabilities or limb loss.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1 (reenacting and amending RCW 41.05.017 and incorporating by reference RCW 48.43.500 et seq.)
Who Is Most Affected
Public and school employees — especially those with limb loss, amputations, or orthopedic conditions — gain guaranteed access to prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces without prior coverage gaps or high out-of-pocket costs. This is especially impactful for lower-wage public employees who cannot afford $5,000–$10,000 devices out of pocket.
Employees with disabilities or mobility impairments benefit most directly — they experience improved health outcomes, reduced financial strain, and greater workplace inclusion. The bill addresses a long-standing gap in coverage that disproportionately affected people with disabilities.
Health insurers and plan administrators will need to update benefit designs and potentially adjust premiums, but the fiscal impact is expected to be modest due to the narrow scope (only prosthetics/orthotics) and existing statutory framework. Administrative burden is low because the bill incorporates existing coverage rules.
State and local governments (as employers) may face slightly higher health plan costs, but these are likely offset by improved employee retention, reduced disability claims, and alignment with existing coverage mandates already applied to other plans.
Disability advocacy groups and workers’ rights organizations strongly support this bill as a step toward health equity and inclusion. However, small business employers who are not part of the public sector are not affected — so the benefit is targeted, not universal.