State Health Plan and Resource Strategy
Washington has extensive health care data and research. What’s missing is a clear, statewide view of health system performance and resource needs.
Information about health care utilization, population health, system capacity, and costs exists across many state agencies, programs, and reports. However, these data are often fragmented across systems, collected for different purposes, or difficult to interpret when viewed together.
The State Health Plan and Resource Strategy is intended to bring this information together to support effective statewide health planning. Policymakers, agencies, health system leaders, and the public need clear, consistent, and transparent information to understand population health trends, evaluate system capacity, identify service gaps, and assess how the health care system is performing across regions and communities.
This work responds to the legislature’s direction to renew efforts to develop a sustainable State Health. The research presented here organizes existing data and analysis around statutory objectives outlined in RCW 43.370, helping to create a more coordinated and accessible foundation for strategic health planning in Washington.
Looking for a quick overview?
Get a high-level snapshot of the Washington State Health Plan and Resource Strategy, including the purpose of this work and the five key objectives guiding research and engagement.
State Health Plan Framework
RCW 43.370.030 directs the Office of Financial Management to organize the State Health Plan and Health Resources Strategy around five core objectives. Each objective addresses a different aspect of statewide health planning and together they provide the analytical framework for evaluating the performance, capacity, and future needs of Washington’s health care system.
Objective 1: Assess population health needs
Objective 2: Inventory health care facilities and services
Objective 3: Evaluate health care data resources
Objective 4: Examine emerging trends in health care
Objective 5: Assess rural health care availability and needs
The State Health Plan and Health Resource Strategy will be developed over multiple phases with opportunities for public input.
To receive updates about the State Health Plan and opportunities for public input, sign up for GovDelivery email notifications from the OFM Forecasting and Research – Health Care team.
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- Major updates to the State Health Plan and Resource Strategy
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Join us for the March 25 Public Hearing
Hybrid public hearing on the draft approach to the State Health Plan
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
10:00–11:00 a.m.
In person
1500 Jefferson St SE | Room 2331 | Olympia
Online Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 228 157 850 496 26 | Passcode: ea9yM65S
Join by phone
+1 564-999-2000, 713752260# | Phone conference ID: 713 752 260#
Timeline and Opportunities to Engage
The State Health Plan and Health Resource Strategy will be developed over multiple phases with opportunities for public input.
- March 25, 2026 – Hybrid public hearing on the draft approach to the State Health Plan
- April 17, 2026 – Deadline to submit public comments on the draft approach
- June 30, 2026 – Draft approach submitted to the Legislature
- Public hearing on the full State Health Plan – Date to be announced
- December 31, 2027 – Final State Health Plan and Resource Strategy submitted to the Legislature