This bill amends RCW 74.09.830 to change state postpartum health coverage eligibility and reporting requirements. It continues a state-funded program that covers postpartum persons who live in Washington and have countable income at or below 210 percent of the federal poverty level, but who are not otherwise eligible for Title XIX (Medicaid) or Title XXI coverage. Until June 30, 2026, anyone approved for pregnancy or postpartum coverage at any time must remain continuously eligible for 12 months after the pregnancy ends regardless of income changes. For individuals newly approved on or after July 1, 2026, continuous postpartum eligibility is limited to six months after the pregnancy ends. The text also states the health care coverage under this section is required during a six-month period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy, reflecting a replacement of a prior 12-month period. The amendment requires the implementing authority to match the amount and scope of services to medical assistance as defined in RCW 74.09.520, to seek federal financial participation under Title XIX and XXI, and to expedite determinations for people presumptively eligible for those programs. Beginning January 1, 2022 the authority must submit quarterly reports to the caseload forecast work group on numbers awaiting determination, numbers who later receive Title XIX/XXI coverage, and outreach activities. Managed care organizations contracted to provide postpartum coverage must annually report to the Legislature on maternal health improvement efforts, utilization, outreach, and actions to collect eligibility information for federal matching. The authority must work with stakeholders and the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to establish a culturally and linguistically accessible community education and outreach campaign, subject to specific appropriations. This is a modification of existing law that changes eligibility periods and imposes procedural and reporting requirements; it is not a creation of a new crime or penalty change. Important details are missing from the extracted text: the implementing "authority" is not defined here, definitions for "postpartum persons" and "countable income" beyond the 210 percent threshold are not provided, operational details for the transition between the 12and six-month periods are unclear, funding specifics for outreach are not included, and no overall effective date for the amendment is stated.

If enacted, people who give birth in Washington with incomes at or below 210% of the federal poverty level and who are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP will continue to be covered by a state postpartum program, but the practical length of that coverage will change: those approved before July 1, 2026 are likely to keep continuous postpartum coverage for 12 months after pregnancy, while people newly approved on or after July 1, 2026 will generally get six months. This narrows the post-2026 duration for new enrollees and keeps the income cutoff and exclusion for Medicaid/CHIP in place, so many lower-income new mothers could lose coverage sooner unless they qualify for Title XIX/XXI. State officials managing the program and contracted managed care organizations will face more administrative work and reporting duties: the implementing authority must speed up eligibility decisions to maximize federal matching funds and provide quarterly reports to the caseload forecast work group, while MCOs must report annually to the Legislature on maternal health efforts. The law directs outreach with the Health Benefit Exchange but makes that campaign subject to separate appropriations, so expansion of enrollment or education efforts depends on funding. It is unclear from the provided text which agency is the “authority” and how the practical transition from 12 to six months will be administered.