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SB 5866

Protecting the continuity of teletherapy services.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Fortunato

Requires teletherapy practice management software vendors to give six months' notice before terminating services during disputes over terms, preserving care continuity.

First reading, referred to Health & Long Term Care.
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Bill Summary · SB 5866

Summary: Senate Bill 5866 (Washington) — Protecting the Continuity of Teletherapy Services

Overview

  • Bill number: SB 5866
  • Title: Protecting the continuity of teletherapy services
  • Sponsor: Senator Fortunato
  • Purpose: To safeguard the ongoing availability of teletherapy services by ensuring software vendors that provide practice management software to teletherapy providers give advance notice if terminating services during a dispute over software terms.
  • Status: First reading, referred to Health & Long Term Care
  • Introduced / Prefiled: Prefiled December 18, 2023; First reading January 8, 2024
  • Legislative context: Adds a new provision to chapter RCW 71.24

What the bill would do

  • Create a new requirement in RCW 71.24 for practice management software vendors.
  • When a dispute arises between a software vendor and a client therapist or therapy practice over proposed changes to the software user agreement, the vendor must give six months’ notice before stopping services to that client.
  • The provision focuses specifically on teletherapy services supported by the vendor’s software.

Key provisions

  • New section: Adds a six-month notice requirement.
  • Trigger event: A dispute between the vendor and a client therapist or therapy practice over proposed changes to the terms of the software user agreement.
  • Scope: Software vendors that provide practice management software used to support teletherapy services.
  • Effect: Prevents abrupt termination of software services to the affected therapist or therapy practice during the dispute window by requiring advance notice prior to stopping services.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected:
    • Software vendors that supply practice management software used for teletherapy.
    • Client therapists and therapy practices that rely on such software.
  • Indirectly affected:
    • Teletherapy patients, who may experience greater continuity of remote services due to delayed service terminations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: First reading; referral to Health & Long Term Care.
  • Legislative timeline:
    • Prefiled: December 18, 2023
    • First Reading: January 8, 2024
  • Enactment: Like other statutes, would require passage by both chambers and signature by the governor to become law. The bill specifies the six-month notice duration but does not detail transition timelines beyond that requirement.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Positive implications:
    • Enhances continuity of teletherapy services by providing a structured transition period if a software vendor seeks to terminate services during a dispute.
    • Gives therapists and practices time to arrange alternative software solutions, mitigating disruptions to care.
  • Possible concerns or questions:
    • How “dispute over proposed changes in terms” is defined and resolved.
    • Whether six months is sufficient or excessive in various practice contexts.
    • Compliance costs for software vendors and potential unintended consequences for contract negotiations.
    • Any exclusions or exceptions (not specified in the text provided).

Next steps for readers

  • Monitor committee actions in Health & Long Term Care for further refinements, amendments, or passage.
  • Consider potential implications for teletherapy operations, vendor relationships, and transition planning in telehealth practices.

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

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