H-3959              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1938

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Locke, van Dyke, Allen, Cole, Niemi, Belcher, D. Nelson, Lux, Tanner, Miller and Appelwick

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to insurance coverage; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          Notwithstanding any provision of any disability insurance contract as provided for in this chapter, benefits shall not be denied thereunder for any service rendered by a person at the direction and under the supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW if such contract would have provided benefits if such service had been performed by the physician.  The insurer may modify the benefit payment, however, to reflect any cost savings in rendering the service.

          The provisions of this section are intended to be remedial and procedural to the extent they do not impair the obligation of any existing contract.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW  to read as follows:

          Notwithstanding any provision of any group disability insurance contract or blanket disability insurance contract as provided for in this chapter, benefits shall not be denied thereunder for any service rendered by a person at the direction and under the supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW if such contract would have provided benefits if such service had been performed by the physician.  The insurer may modify the benefit payment, however, to reflect any cost savings in rendering the service.

          The provisions of this section are intended to be remedial and procedural to the extent they do not impair the obligation of any existing contract.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, benefits shall not be denied under any health care service contract issued or renewed after the effective date of this act for any service rendered by a person at the direction and under the supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW if such contract would have provided benefits if such service had been performed by the physician.  The contractor may modify the benefit payment, however, to reflect any cost savings in rendering the service.