S-5119.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6122
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Quigley, Fairley, Kohl, Thibaudeau, Loveland, Sheldon, Franklin, Winsley, Pelz and McAuliffe)
Read first time 02/02/96.
AN ACT Relating to the protection of patient choice in health care insurance and in the choice of health care providers; and adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:
Every carrier, with respect to every health plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on and after January 1, 1997:
(1) May include enrollee cost-sharing requirements, utilization review requirements, gatekeeper requirements, or any other managed care requirements or procedures, only to assure efficient and effective delivery of health care services. Such requirements, procedures, or contract terms may not discriminate against any type of provider included in the plan and must be written and applied on a substantially fair and uniform basis among all health care providers included in the plan.
(2) Shall include chiropractors licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW to provide health services or care for conditions included in the plan to the extent that:
(a) The plan covers the condition or provides the services;
(b) The provision of such health services or care is within the permitted scope of practice; and
(c) The chiropractor agrees to abide by standards related to:
(i) Provision, utilization review, and cost-containment of health services;
(ii) Management and administrative procedures; and
(iii) Provision of cost-effective and clinically efficacious health services.
(3) Shall include naturopathic physicians licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW to provide health services or care for conditions included in the plan to the extent that:
(a) The plan covers the condition or provides the services;
(b) The provision of such health services or care is within the permitted scope of practice; and
(c) The naturopathic physician agrees to abide by standards related to:
(i) Provision, utilization review, and cost-containment of health services;
(ii) Management and administrative procedures; and
(iii) Provision of cost-effective and clinically efficacious health services.
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