Committee hears bill to shorten credentialing timelines and increase provider transparency

The House Healthcare and Wellness Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2683, a measure aimed at speeding provider credentialing and improving transparency for clinicians and health-care sites.

Emily Poole, committee staff, said the bill would require carriers to approve or deny a completed credentialing application within 30 days beginning Jan. 1, 2027, rather than the current 90-day standard. The bill would also require carriers to post billing and health-plan coverage information needed by providers to determine eligibility and reimbursement processes and to notify providers at least 60 days before modifying such documents.

Vice Chair Alicia Ruhl, the bill’s sponsor, said shortened credentialing timelines will reduce administrative delays that keep ready providers from seeing insured patients and may help address workforce shortages. Supporters, including the Washington State Psychological Association, said the change would reduce administrative friction and allow providers to start seeing patients sooner.

Opponents, including the Association of Washington Healthcare Plans, warned that verifying identity, disciplinary history, interstate records and volume increases can slow processing; carriers also raised privacy concerns with posting information publicly without logins required by HIPAA protections. Testimony urged caution about implementation timelines and coordination with other bills taking effect in 2027.

The committee concluded public testimony and did not vote at the hearing.