1046-S AMH DELL HAGE 4

EFFECT: Strikes anti-trust repealers. If adopted the Anti-trust provision of the the Washington Health Services Act of 1993 would be maintained in statute. [See text below]

RCW 43.72.300 Managed competition‑-Findings and intent. (1) The legislature recognizes that competition among health care providers, facilities, payers, and purchasers will yield the best allocation of health care resources, the lowest prices for health care, and the highest quality of health care when there exists a large number of buyers and sellers, easily comparable health care plans and services, minimal barriers to entry and exit into the health care market, and adequate information for buyers and sellers to base purchasing and production decisions. However, the legislature finds that purchasers of health care services and health care coverage do not have adequate information upon which to base purchasing decisions; that health care facilities and providers of health care services face legal and market disincentives to develop economies of scale or to provide the most cost-efficient and efficacious service; that health insurers, contractors, and health maintenance organizations face market disincentives in providing health care coverage to those Washington residents with the most need for health care coverage; and that potential competitors in the provision of health care coverage bear unequal burdens in entering the market for health care coverage.

(2) The legislature therefore intends to exempt from state anti-trust laws, and to provide immunity from federal anti-trust laws through the state action doctrine for activities approved under this chapter that might otherwise be constrained by such laws and intends to displace competition in the health care market: To contain the aggregate cost of health care services; to promote the development of comprehensive, integrated, and cost-effective health care delivery systems through cooperative activities among health care providers and facilities; to promote comparability of health care coverage; to improve the cost-effectiveness in providing health care coverage relative to health promotion, disease prevention, and the amelioration or cure of illness; to assure universal access to a publicly determined, uniform package of health care benefits; and to create reasonable equity in the distribution of funds, treatment, and medical risk among purchasers of health care coverage, payers of health care services, providers of health care services, health care facilities, and Washington residents. To these ends, any lawful action taken pursuant to chapter 492, Laws of 1993 by any person or entity created or regulated by chapter 492, Laws of 1993 are declared to be taken pursuant to state statute and in furtherance of the public purposes of the state of Washington.

(3) The legislature does not intend and unless explicitly permitted in accordance with RCW 43.72.310 or under rules adopted pursuant to chapter 492, Laws of 1993, does not authorize any person or entity to engage in activities or to conspire to engage in activities that would constitute per se violations of state and federal anti-trust laws including but not limited to conspiracies or agreements:

(a) Among competing health care providers not to grant discounts, not to provide services, or to fix the price of their services;

(b) Among certified health plans as to the price or level of reimbursement for health care services;

(d) Among purchasers of certified health plan coverage to boycott a particular plan or class of plans;

(e) Among certified health plans to divide the market for health care coverage; or

(f) Among certified health plans and purchasers to attract or discourage enrollment of any Washington resident or groups of residents in a certified health plan based upon the perceived or actual risk of loss in including such resident or group of residents in a certified health plan or purchasing group.[1993 c 492 ' 447.]

RCW 43.72.310 Managed competition‑-Competitive oversight‑-Attorney general duties‑-Anti-trust immunity. (1) A certified health plan, health care facility, health care provider, or other person involved in the development, delivery, or marketing of health care or certified health plans may request, in writing, that the commission obtain an informal opinion from the attorney general as to whether particular conduct is authorized by chapter 492, Laws of 1993. The attorney general shall issue such opinion within thirty days of receipt of a written request for an opinion or within thirty days of receipt of any additional information requested by the attorney general necessary for rendering an opinion unless extended by the attorney general for good cause shown. If the attorney general concludes that such conduct is not authorized by chapter 492, Laws of 1993, the person or organization making the request may petition the commission for review and approval of such conduct in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.

(2) After obtaining the written opinion of the attorney general and consistent with such opinion, the health services commission:

(a) May authorize conduct by a certified health plan, health care facility, health care provider, or any other person that could tend to lessen competition in the relevant market upon a strong showing that the conduct is likely to achieve the policy goals of chapter 492, Laws of 1993 and a more competitive alternative is impractical;

(b) Shall adopt rules governing conduct among providers, health care facilities, and certified health plans including rules governing provider and facility contracts with certified health plans, rules governing the use of "most favored nation" clauses and exclusive dealing clauses in such contracts, and rules providing that certified health plans in rural areas contract with a sufficient number and type of health care providers and facilities to ensure consumer access to local health care services;

(c) Shall adopt rules permitting health care providers within the service area of a plan to collectively negotiate the terms and conditions of contracts with a certified health plan including the ability of providers to meet and communicate for the purposes of these negotiations; and

(d) Shall adopt rules governing cooperative activities among health care facilities and providers.

(3) A certified health plan, health care facility, health care provider, or any other person involved in the development, delivery, and marketing of health services or certified health plans may file a written petition with the commission requesting approval of conduct that could tend to lessen competition in the relevant market. Such petition shall be filed in a form and manner prescribed by rule of the commission.

The commission shall issue a written decision approving or denying a petition filed under this section within ninety days of receipt of a properly completed written petition unless extended by the commission for good cause shown. The decision shall set forth findings as to benefits and disadvantages and conclusions as to whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

(4) In authorizing conduct and adopting rules of conduct under this section, the commission with the advice of the attorney general, shall consider the benefits of such conduct in furthering the goals of health care reform including but not limited to:

(a) Enhancement of the quality of health services to consumers;

(b) Gains in cost efficiency of health services;

(d) Avoidance of duplication of health services resources; or

(e) And as to (b) and (c) of this subsection: (i) Facilitates the exchange of information relating to performance expectations; (ii) simplifies the negotiation of delivery arrangements and relationships; and (iii) reduces the transactions costs on the part of certified health plans and providers in negotiating more cost-effective delivery arrangements.

These benefits must outweigh disadvantages including and not limited to:

(i) Reduced competition among certified health plans, health care providers, or health care facilities;

(ii) Adverse impact on quality, availability, or price of health care services to consumers; or

(iii) The availability of arrangements less restrictive to competition that achieve the same benefits.

(5) Conduct authorized by the commission shall be deemed taken pursuant to state statute and in the furtherance of the public purposes of the state of Washington.

(6) With the assistance of the attorney general's office, the commission shall actively supervise any conduct authorized under this section to determine whether such conduct or rules permitting certain conduct should be continued and whether a more competitive alternative is practical. The commission shall periodically review petitioned conduct through, at least, annual progress reports from petitioners, annual or more frequent reviews by the commission that evaluate whether the conduct is consistent with the petition, and whether the benefits continue to outweigh any disadvantages. If the commission determines that the likely benefits of any conduct approved through rule, petition, or otherwise by the commission no longer outweigh the disadvantages attributable to potential reduction in competition, the commission shall order a modification or discontinuance of such conduct. Conduct ordered discontinued by the commission shall no longer be deemed to be taken pursuant to state statute and in the furtherance of the public purposes of the state of Washington.

(7) Nothing contained in chapter 492, Laws of 1993 is intended to in any way limit the ability of rural hospital districts to enter into cooperative agreements and contracts pursuant to RCW 70.44.450 and chapter 39.34 RCW.[1993 c 492 ' 448.]