HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 5824

BYSenators Johnson and McMullen

Revising the provision for payment of certain health care services.

House Committe on Financial Institutions & Insurance

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Dellwo, Chair; Zellinsky, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Baugher, Beck, Crane, Dorn, Inslee, P. King, Nutley, K. Wilson and Winsley.

House Staff:John Conniff (786-7119)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Health care service contractors (HCSC) may direct benefit payments to physicians and other health care providers who have contracted with the HCSC to provide services to subscribers of the HCSC. When a subscriber uses the services of a physician who has not contracted with the HCSC, state law requires benefit payments to be issued jointly to both the subscriber and the physician unless the subscriber proves that the physician has been paid.

SUMMARY:

Pharmacists and emergency medical care providers are added to the list of providers to whom a benefit payment must be issued jointly with the subscriber when the subscriber has not paid for the providers' services.

When a health care service contractor makes a joint payment to a subscriber and a physician or other health care provider, the contractor must list the physician or other provider as the first named payee.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.