WSR 15-17-047

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 2015-12—Filed August 12, 2015, 4:55 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Requiring each carrier and health plan to enter independent review organization (IRO) final decision determination information into the commissioner's IRO online data base.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.43.535.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Washington's current IRO system is not conductive to collecting, analyzing, and making IRO information publicly available. The current system does not allow for accessible and usable IRO decision information, consistency in the IRO review process, or effective oversight, enforcement, and regulation of the IRO process. This rule making will consider adding new language to chapter 284-43 WAC that would require each carrier and health plan to submit final IRO decision determination information to the office of the insurance commissioner's online data base within three days of receipt of the IRO's final decision. Data requirements for such decision determination information will also be considered.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Submit written comments by October 2, 2015, to Stacy Middleton, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-3109.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Stacy Middleton, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-3109.

August 12, 2015

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner