WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 5561

Creating a health care entity registry.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Annette Cleveland and 3 co-sponsors

SB 5561 creates a Washington Health Care Entity Registry with annual ownership/governance reporting and a public, searchable tool to boost transparency.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 5561

Summary: SB 5561 – Creating a Health Care Entity Registry

Overview
SB 5561 would establish a Health Care Entity Registry administered by the Washington Department of Health. The bill defines who must report, what information must be reported, and how the information may be used and shared. It also requires an interactive public search tool to provide transparency about the ownership, structure, and operations of health care entities.

Purpose and intent
- Create a centralized registry of health care entities to enhance oversight, transparency, and coordination among state agencies.
- Require annual reporting of detailed ownership, governance, organizational, and financial information, with a public-facing search tool to access the data (subject to confidentiality protections for sensitive identifiers).

Key provisions

1) Definitions (Sec. 1)
- Health care entity: Includes health care providers, health care facilities, provider organizations, health care benefit managers, and carriers.
- Affiliate, Control, Provider Organization, Management Services Organization, Private Equity Fund: Terms used to describe ownership, control, and organizational relationships.
- The definitions establish who is subject to reporting and how complex ownership structures (including private equity and out-of-state affiliates) are treated.

2) Annual reporting obligation (Sec. 2)
- Effective date: Beginning June 30, 2027, health care entities must report annually to the Department of Health (DOH).
- Report content (non-exhaustive list):
- Legal name, business address, and locations.
- Business identification numbers (e.g., tax ID, NPI, EIN, CMS numbers, NAIC numbers, health care benefit manager registration numbers).
- A representative's contact information.
- Ownership/Investment details for anyone with ownership or control (including private equity involvement).
- Current organizational chart showing structure, affiliates, subsidiaries, and entities listed in ownership/control disclosures.
- Information on governing board members and affiliations with related entities.
- Comprehensive financial reports, with DOH considering existing reporting requirements to avoid duplication.
- If applicable (provider organizations or facilities): provider-level details (name, license type, specialty, provider location, employment/contract status) and affiliated facilities.
- Cost: Reporting is at no cost to the DOH.
- Exemptions:
- Independent health care provider organizations with two or fewer providers.
- Health care provider organizations owned or controlled by a reporting entity, if the provider organization is in the submitting organizational chart and the controlling entity reports all required information on its behalf.
- Public information: Registry data is public information, with two exceptions:
- Individual health care providers’ tax identification numbers (if they overlap with social security numbers) must be confidential.
- Interagency sharing: DOH may share reported data with the Attorney General, other state agencies, and state officials to reduce duplication or aid oversight/enforcement, subject to confidentiality protections for sensitive identifiers (e.g., SSNs). DOH may merge similar reporting requirements in consultation with relevant agencies.

3) Public-facing tool (Sec. 3)
- By January 1, 2028, DOH must develop an interactive online tool that allows the public to search and view the previous year’s data submitted by health care entities.
- The tool increases accessibility and transparency for patients, researchers, and oversight bodies.

Penalties
- The bill notes that penalties are prescribed, but the provided text does not include the specific penalty provisions. The full text would specify enforcement mechanisms for noncompliance.

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Introduced: January 28, 2025
  • First reading: January 28, 2025 (referred to Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care)
  • Public hearing: February 4, 2025, at 10:30 AM (Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care)
  • Reporting obligation begins: June 30, 2027 (annual reporting starts)
  • Public interactive registry: planned by January 1, 2028

Who is affected

  • Entities that qualify as health care entities under the definitions (providers, facilities, provider organizations, health care benefit managers, and carriers).
  • Large and complex ownership structures, including private equity funds and out-of-state affiliates, are covered.
  • Exemptions apply to small independent provider organizations (two providers or fewer) and provider organizations owned/controlled by a reporting entity if the parent reports on their behalf and the entity is shown in the organizational chart.

Impact and considerations

  • Enhances transparency around ownership, governance, and financial relationships in the Washington health care sector.
  • Could improve oversight, reduce duplication of reporting, and facilitate enforcement.
  • Public access via an interactive tool promotes consumer awareness but raises considerations about privacy for sensitive identifiers (cited as protected).
  • Small provider organizations may be exempt, limiting the regulatory reach to larger or more complex entities.

Status
- Public hearing scheduled in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (10:30 AM). The bill is in the committee stage, with ongoing consideration of its provisions and potential amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.