H-1236.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1731

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Schual‑Berke, Campbell, Cody, McMorris, Linville, Ruderman and Edwards

Read first time 02/01/2001.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Creating an interagency group to produce standardized health care transaction forms.

    AN ACT Relating to standardized health care transaction forms; adding new sections to chapter 41.05 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department of health, the authority, the department of social and health services, the office of the insurance commissioner, and the department of labor and industries must form an interagency group for coordination and consultation on standardized health care transaction forms for all state purchased health care.

    (2) The interagency group must include representatives of health carriers licensed under Title 48 RCW, health professionals licensed under Title 18 RCW, and employer purchasers of health care.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The interagency group for coordination and consultation on standardized health care transaction forms created under section 1 of this act must establish standardized health care transaction forms for all transactions involving state purchased health care, as defined in RCW 41.05.011.  In developing transaction forms, the interagency group must minimize provider burden and administrative cost resulting from varying data submission requirements.

    (2) The standardized health care transaction forms must be consistent with all federal requirements of the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996, and include:

    (a) Claims;

    (b) Enrollment;

    (c) Eligibility;

    (d) Payment and remittance;

    (e) Premium payment;

    (f) Claim status;

    (g) Referral and authorization; and

    (h) Coordination of benefits.

    (3) The standardized health care transaction forms must be operational and in use no later than October 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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