WA HB1812

Health carriers, the Health Care Authority, and Medicaid managed care organizations must cover anesthesia services for any covered procedure regardless of duration, and cannot impose time caps or deny coverage based on procedure length

Reimbursement for anesthesia services must be based solely on medical necessity as determined by the physician or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), prohibiting arbitrary time-based limits on payment

Beginning January 1, 2026, insurers cannot distinguish between physicians and CRNAs regarding coverage, billing, or reimbursement when both are acting within their licensed scope of practice, and cannot reduce reimbursement rates to comply with this parity requirement

Insurance Commissioner gains enforcement authority including civil monetary penalties, requiring reimbursement of improperly denied claims, license suspension or revocation for repeated violations, and public disclosure of noncompliant carriers

Declared an emergency measure taking effect immediately to address insurer practices reportedly targeting vulnerable populations including patients under age 1, over age 70, emergency cases, and those with severe systemic diseases