HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1576

             As Reported By House Committee on:

             Financial Institutions & Insurance

Title:  An act relating to medical examinations required by a private passenger automobile insurance policy.

Brief Description:  Restricting the location of medical examinations required by certain insurers.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Meyers, Dellwo, R. Johnson, Dorn, Ferguson and Zellinsky.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Financial Institutions & Insurance, March 5, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1576 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Dellwo, Chair; Zellinsky, Vice Chair; Anderson; Dorn; Inslee; R. Johnson; R. Meyers; and Scott.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 5 members:  Representatives Broback, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Paris; Schmidt; and Winsley.

Staff:  John Conniff (786-7119).

Background:  Auto insurance companies often require a claimant to submit to a medical exam when claiming benefits for bodily injury.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Private passenger automobile insurers must reimburse insureds for travel, expenses and lost wages when the insurer requires the insured to attend a physical exam.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Provisions requiring insurers to use health care professionals as close as possible to the insured's residence when a medical exam is required is replaced with provisions requiring reimbursement for costs of attending such exams.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.