H-3117.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2515

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Benson, Mulliken, Bush, Ahern, Roach, Morell, McIntire, Upthegrove, Cody and Conway

Read first time 01/18/2002.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Paying for health care services.

    AN ACT Relating to paying for health care services; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

    A participating provider, as defined under RCW 48.44.010, may not request a patient to pay more than the copay or deductible specified by the health carrier, as defined under RCW 48.43.005, until such time as the carrier notifies the provider and patient in writing that no further payment will be made.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

    A participating provider, as defined under RCW 48.44.010, may not request a patient to pay more than the copay or deductible specified by the health carrier, as defined under RCW 48.43.005, until such time as the carrier notifies the provider and patient in writing that no further payment will be made.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

    A participating provider may not request a patient to pay more than the copay or deductible specified by the health carrier, until such time as the carrier notifies the provider and patient in writing that no further payment will be made.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

    A participating provider may not request a patient to pay more than the copay or deductible specified by the health carrier, until such time as the carrier notifies the provider and patient in writing that no further payment will be made.

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