S-2026.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5947

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Moore and Moyer

Read first time 03/02/93.  Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.

Requiring health care coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.

          AN ACT Relating to health care coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that childhood communicable diseases constitute a serious threat to the health of children and that the prevention of these diseases is a readily achievable goal; the effectiveness of childhood vaccinations to save lives and prevent debilitating disease has been well documented; certain vaccinations are already required as a condition to entering school in Washington; and the full immunization of all children continues to be sound public policy.

          Vaccination is among the most cost-effective components of preventive medical care, and it is in the financial best interest of the state and health care insurers to provide for the full immunization of all children.  It is therefore the purpose of this act to require every contract or insurance policy for health care of benefits to provide coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          Each policy issued on or after January 1, 1994, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.  For the purposes of this section, such vaccinations must cover smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenza (systemic), pneumococcal disease, and those other diseases for which vaccines have and will have been developed in the future and are recognized as effective by the state board of health.

          The vaccinations covered in this section are subject to coinsurance provisions that may be in force in the policy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Each group disability insurance contract issued on or after January 1, 1994, except for contracts that only provide coverage for specified diseases or limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.  For the purposes of this section, such vaccinations must cover smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenza (systemic), pneumococcal disease, and those other diseases for which vaccines have and will have been developed in the future and are recognized as effective by the state board of health.

          The vaccinations covered in this section are subject to coinsurance provisions that may be in force in the contract.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          Each health care service plan contract issued on or after January 1, 1994, except for contracts that only provide coverage for specified diseases or limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.  For the purposes of this section, such vaccinations must cover smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenza (systemic), pneumococcal disease, and those other diseases for which vaccines have and will have been developed in the future and are recognized as effective by the state board of health.

          The vaccinations covered in this section are subject to coinsurance provisions that may be in force in the contract.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

          Each agreement issued on or after January 1, 1994, except for agreements that only provide coverage for specified diseases or limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the immunization and vaccination of children.  For the purposes of this section, such vaccinations must cover smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenza (systemic), pneumococcal disease, and those other diseases for which vaccines have and will have been developed in the future and are recognized as effective by the state board of health.

          The vaccinations covered in this section are subject to coinsurance provisions that may be in force in the agreement.

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