HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 2774

                              As Passed House

                             February 14, 1992

Title:  An act relating to review of chiropractic health care.

Brief Description:  Registering chiropractors who review medical claims.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives R. Meyers, Day, Wynne, Anderson and Ludwig.

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 6, 1992, DP;

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Casada, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Edmondson; Morris; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Claims for payment submitted by chiropractors for rendering health services to beneficiaries of third-party payors (insurers) are reviewed for appropriateness by the payor. There is a belief that these reviews should be conducted in accordance with accepted standards of care, with the assurance of thoroughness and fairness, and should not be influenced by considerations of remuneration.

Summary of Bill:  The Chiropractic Disciplinary Board is directed to establish a registration system and to develop and enforce standards for qualifying chiropractic physicians who engage in the business of issuing opinions on the condition, prognosis, or treatment of a patient.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Chiropractors reviewing the billings for chiropractic services to third-party insurance payors may not be engaged in practice and therefore may be insufficiently aware of current chiropractic standards. They may also be influenced by financial incentives for denying claims. There is a need for establishing a program for qualifying chiropractic claim reviewers on practice standards, and enforcing such standards in the interests of quality patient care.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative R. Meyers, prime sponsor (pro); Steve Wehrly, Washington State Chiropractic Association (pro); and Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association (con).