H-1122.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1840
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Dyer and L. Thomas
Read first time 02/11/97. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to agents for health plans; and amending RCW 70.47.120 and 70.47.130.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 70.47.120 and 1987 1st ex.s. c 5 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
In addition to the powers and duties specified in RCW 70.47.040 and 70.47.060, the administrator has the power to enter into contracts for the following functions and services:
(1) With public or private agencies, to assist the administrator in her or his duties to design or revise the schedule of covered basic health care services, and/or to monitor or evaluate the performance of participating managed health care systems.
(2) With public or private agencies, to provide technical or professional assistance to health care providers, particularly public or private nonprofit organizations and providers serving rural areas, who show serious intent and apparent capability to participate in the plan as managed health care systems.
(3) With public or private agencies, including health care service contractors registered under RCW 48.44.015, and doing business in the state, for marketing and administrative services in connection with participation of managed health care systems, enrollment of enrollees, billing and collection services to the administrator, and other administrative functions ordinarily performed by health care service contractors, other than insurance. Any activities of a health care service contractor pursuant to a contract with the administrator under this section shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of Title 48 RCW except that persons appointed or authorized to solicit applications for enrollment in the basic health plan shall comply with chapter 48.17 RCW.
Sec. 2. RCW 70.47.130 and 1994 c 309 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The activities and operations of the Washington basic health plan under this
chapter, including those of managed health care systems to the extent of their
participation in the plan, are exempt from the provisions and requirements of
Title 48 RCW((, except as provided in RCW 70.47.070 and that the premium and
prepayment tax imposed under RCW 48.14.0201 shall apply to amounts paid to a
managed health care system by the basic health plan for participating in the
basic health plan and providing health care services for nonsubsidized
enrollees in the basic health plan)) except:
(a) Benefits as provided in RCW 70.47.070;
(b) Persons appointed or authorized to solicit applications for enrollment in the basic health plan, including employees of the health care authority, must comply with chapter 48.17 RCW; and
(c) Amounts paid to a managed health care system by the basic health plan for participating in the basic health plan and providing health care services for nonsubsidized enrollees in the basic health plan must comply with RCW 48.14.0201.
(2) The purpose of the 1994 amendatory language to this section in chapter 309, Laws of 1994 is to clarify the intent of the legislature that premiums paid on behalf of nonsubsidized enrollees in the basic health plan are subject to the premium and prepayment tax. The legislature does not consider this clarifying language to either raise existing taxes nor to impose a tax that did not exist previously.
--- END ---