WA HB1523

Establishes the Essential Worker Health Care Program by July 1, 2026 to provide affordable health coverage for nursing home workers through supplemental Medicaid payments to participating employers, distributed annually based on each facility's Medicaid bed days

Requires participating nursing home employers to join a qualified health fund certified by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, maintain prior health care spending levels (adjusted for CPI), and demonstrate funds are used to improve employee health benefits

Qualified health funds must include at least 2 unrelated employers, cover minimum 5,000 long-term care employees in Washington, and offer benefits equivalent to ACA platinum plans or Taft-Hartley trust-approved plans

Department of Social and Health Services must submit state plan amendment or waiver to CMS by July 1, 2025, with program implementation contingent on federal approval; status report due to legislature by December 1, 2025

Authorizes recoupment of supplemental payments from noncompliant employers or health funds, including biennial audits, 30-day appeal process, and annual reporting to the legislature on recovered amounts