BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to health insurance benefits for mastectomies; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes the role of health care providers as the appropriate authority to determine and establish the delivery of quality health care services to mastectomy patients. It is the intent of the legislature to recognize patient preference and the clinical sovereignty of providers as they make determinations regarding the length of time individual patients may need to remain in a health care facility after mastectomies. It is not the intent of the legislature to diminish a carrier's ability to utilize managed care strategies but to ensure the clinical judgment of the provider is not undermined by restrictive carrier contracts or utilization review criteria that fail to recognize individual needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the following definitions apply throughout this section:

(a) "Attending provider" means a provider who: Has clinical hospital privileges consistent with RCW 70.43.020; is included in a provider network of the carrier that is providing coverage; and is a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.

(b) "Health carrier" or "carrier" means disability insurers regulated under chapter 48.20 or 48.21 RCW, health care services contractors regulated under chapter 48.44 RCW, health maintenance organizations regulated under chapter 48.46 RCW, plans operating under the health care authority under chapter 41.05 RCW, the state health insurance pool operating under chapter 48.41 RCW, and insuring entities regulated under this chapter.

(2)(a) Every health carrier that provides coverage for mastectomies must permit the attending provider, in consultation with the patient, to make decisions on the length of inpatient stay, rather than making such decisions through contracts or agreements between providers, hospitals, and insurers. These decisions must be based on accepted medical practice.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require attending providers to authorize care they believe to be medically unnecessary.

(3) No carrier that provides coverage for mastectomies may deselect, terminate the services of, require additional documentation from, require additional utilization review of, reduce payments to, or otherwise provide financial disincentives to any attending provider or health care facility solely as a result of the attending provider or health care facility ordering care consistent with the provisions of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any insurer from reimbursing an attending provider or health care facility on a capitated, case rate, or other financial incentive basis.

(4) Every carrier that provides coverage for mastectomies must provide notice to policyholders regarding the coverage required under this section. The notice must be in writing and must be transmitted at the earliest of the next mailing to the policyholder, the yearly summary of benefits sent to the policyholder, or January 1 of the year following the effective date of this section.

(5) This section is not intended to establish a standard of medical care.

(6) This section applies to coverage for mastectomies under a contract issued or renewed by a health carrier after the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

(1) For the purposes of this section, "attending provider" means a provider who: Has clinical hospital privileges consistent with RCW 70.43.020; is included in a provider network of the carrier that is providing coverage; and is a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.

(2)(a) Every state purchased health care plan that provides coverage for mastectomies must permit the attending provider, in consultation with the patient, to make decisions on the length of inpatient stay, rather than making such decisions through contracts or agreements between providers, hospitals, and insurers. These decisions must be based on accepted medical practice.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require attending providers to authorize care they believe to be medically unnecessary.

(3) No state purchased health care plan that provides coverage for mastectomies may deselect, terminate the services of, require additional documentation from, require additional utilization review of, reduce payments to, or otherwise provide financial disincentives to any attending provider or health care facility solely as a result of the attending provider or health care facility ordering care consistent with the provisions of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any insurer from reimbursing an attending provider or health care facility on a capitated, case rate, or other financial incentive basis.

(4) Every state purchased health care plan that provides coverage for mastectomies must provide notice to policyholders regarding the coverage required under this section. The notice must be in writing and must be transmitted at the earliest of the next mailing to the policyholder, the yearly summary of benefits sent to the policyholder, or January 1 of the year following the effective date of this section.

(5) This section is not intended to establish a standard of medical care.

(6) This section applies to coverage for mastectomies under a contract issued or renewed by a state purchased health care plan after the effective date of this section.