Washington Hospital Charity Care & Financial Assistance

Washington charity care law

Washington Charity Care Act (RCW 70.170.060 (as amended by SHB 1616, 2022)) requires free care for household incomes up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 300% FPL, applying to all hospitals. Last verified 2026-07-10. Read the statute.

State minimums are a floor, not a ceiling: individual hospital policies are often more generous, and the hospital's Financial Assistance Policy makes the final determination.

Hospitals in Washington with policies on file

Your rights under IRS Section 501(r)

Nonprofit hospitals must maintain a written Financial Assistance Policy, make it publicly available, limit charges for FAP-eligible patients to amounts generally billed to insured patients, and accept applications for at least 240 days after the first billing statement. 501(r) does not set an income threshold; each hospital's own policy does, so patients may qualify at one hospital and not another.