Washington legislators are currently considering House Bill 2545, which would allow patients needing elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to undergo such procedures in ambulatory surgical facilities (ASFs) rather than traditional hospitals. Proponents argue this could reduce wait times and costs, while opponents warn of potential threats to care quality.

The bill was first introduced on January 16, 2026, and received a public hearing before the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on January 30. It is now scheduled for an executive session within that same committee on February 3 at 1:30 p.m. ([legiscan.com](https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2545/2025?utm_source=openai))

Supporters of the bill, including cardiologist Dr. Rick Rosso of the Pulse Heart Institute, testified that limited hospital capacity is leading to delays in both elective and inpatient cardiac care, and that ASFs could help alleviate this bottleneck. Dr. Mortada Shams, also of Pulse Heart Institute, added that the critical factor is the care provider and delivery, not the building where services are rendered. ([]())

Opponents, represented by Lisa Thatcher of the Washington State Hospital Association, caution that decentralizing PCI procedures to outpatient settings could dilute case volumes. She emphasized that lower procedural volume may directly affect provider proficiency and patient safety. Thatcher also noted that revenue from hospital-based PCI helps sustain around-the-clock emergency cardiac care. ([]())

The bill’s supporters claim patients could see cost reductions ranging from 35% to 50% compared to hospital settings. However, hospitals argue that losing revenue from elective procedures could undermine their ability to maintain 24/7 emergency care capabilities. ([]())

No vote has been taken to date. The bill remains under active consideration in the committee. ([]())

Note regarding sources: For this article, primary reporting from KIRO Newsradio via MyNorthwest.com was referenced, along with official legislative tracking via LegiScan and committee scheduling records. All specifics on dates and procedural status are attributed directly to those publicly accessible records.