SB 5242
In CommitteeSenate
Behavioral health resources
Establishing an interactive screening program to improve access to behavioral health resources for health care providers.
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 confidential, anonymous screening program to help licensed health care professionals access behavioral health support, including counseling triage and referrals. It is funded by a uniform fee added to professional licensing fees, and is designed to address clinician distress and burnout.
- Establishes an interactive screening program run by a nonprofit contractor under the Washington State Department of Health to provide confidential behavioral health support to licensed health professionals.
- Requires the program to include an evidence-based screening questionnaire, with results reviewed by a counselor to assess distress levels and determine appropriate next steps.
- Ensures user anonymity and confidentiality, and allows users to communicate with counselors via email or receive referrals for treatment.
- Includes support for paid medical leave requests related to mental health conditions caused or worsened by clinician distress or burnout.
- Funds the program through a uniform annual surcharge added to licensing fees for all professionals licensed under chapter 18.130 RCW, with funds placed in a dedicated state account used solely for this program.
Who is affected
- Licensed health care professionals — Health care professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists) who hold a license under chapter 18.130 RCW will be required to pay an annual surcharge on their license fee to fund the program, but will gain access to confidential behavioral health screening and support services.
- Washington State Department of Health — The Washington State Department of Health will be responsible for contracting with a nonprofit to run the program, setting the uniform surcharge amount by rule, and managing the dedicated account.
- Nonprofit service providers — Nonprofit organizations selected to operate the program will provide confidential screening, counseling triage, and referral services to health professionals.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
The program provides confidential, evidence-based behavioral health screening and counseling triage to all licensed health professionals — a group facing high rates of burnout and suicide — potentially reducing clinician distress, improving retention, and indirectly enhancing patient care quality and continuity.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), (c), (d), (e), (f)By facilitating paid medical leave requests tied to clinician distress, the bill supports recovery and return-to-work pathways, which may reduce workforce turnover and associated costs of recruitment and training — benefiting both clinicians and health systems.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(g)Funding through a uniform surcharge on licensing fees ensures dedicated, predictable financing for the program, avoiding general fund competition and reducing the risk of future budget cuts — supporting long-term program stability and access.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill imposes a new uniform annual surcharge on all licensed health professionals, which may disproportionately burden lower-income clinicians (e.g., residents, early-career nurses, public health workers) who cannot absorb the added cost without compromising other expenses.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)While the bill facilitates paid medical leave requests related to clinician distress, it does not mandate employers to provide such leave or fund the actual leave pay — only the screening and referral program — meaning access to leave remains contingent on employer policy and may not materialize for many workers, especially in non-hospital or gig settings.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(g)Confidentiality and anonymity provisions, while beneficial for individual clinicians, may reduce accountability if clinicians with serious impairments decline follow-up care or self-report inaccurately — potentially delaying identification of systemic safety risks to patients.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(d), (e)
Who Is Most Affected
Licensed health professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists) are the direct participants and funders of the program. While they bear a new cost, they gain confidential, low-barrier access to mental health support — a critical need given high burnout rates. Lower-income clinicians (e.g., residents, early-career staff) may be most burdened by the surcharge but also most likely to benefit from support services.
The Washington State Department of Health gains new administrative responsibilities (contracting, rulemaking, account oversight), but avoids general fund expenditure and shifts program costs to licensees. This may strain limited staff resources but also expands DOH’s role in clinician wellness — a growing policy priority.
Nonprofit service providers selected to operate the program will receive state-funded contracts to deliver screening, triage, and referral services — a new revenue stream. However, they must meet strict confidentiality and evidence-based standards, and the uniform fee structure may limit flexibility in service design or outreach to underserved subgroups.
Patients benefit indirectly from a healthier, more stable workforce — potentially reducing medical errors, improving continuity of care, and lowering turnover-related disruptions. However, the bill does not measure or guarantee improvements in patient outcomes, so impact is speculative.
Healthcare employers (hospitals, clinics, health systems) may benefit from reduced clinician turnover and improved staff morale, but they bear no financial cost under this bill — the surcharge is paid directly by licensees. Employers retain full discretion over granting medical leave, so actual impact on workforce stability is uncertain.