1691 AMH CHAB REIN 45

HB 1691 - H AMD 0119 WITHDRAWN 3-18-03

By Representative Chandler

On page 4, beginning on line 1, strike all of section 4 and insert the following:

"Sec. 4. RCW 51.28.020 and 2001 c 231 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

 (1)(a) Where a worker is entitled to compensation under this title he or she shall file with the department or his or her self-insured employer, as the case may be, his or her application for such, together with the certificate of the physician or licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner participating in a pilot project in accordance with section 17 of this act who attended him or her. An application form developed by the department shall include a notice specifying the worker's right to receive health services from a physician or licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner of the worker's choice under RCW 51.36.010, including chiropractic services under RCW 51.36.015, and listing the types of providers authorized to provide these services.

(b) The physician or licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner participating in a pilot project in accordance with section 17 of this act who attended the injured worker shall inform the injured worker of his or her rights under this title and lend all necessary assistance in making this application for compensation and such proof of other matters as required by the rules of the department without charge to the worker. The department shall provide physicians with a manual which outlines the procedures to be followed in applications for compensation involving occupational diseases, and which describes claimants' rights and responsibilities related to occupational disease claims.

(2) If application for compensation is made to a self-insured employer, he or she shall forthwith send a copy of the application to the department."

On page 20, after line 23, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. A new section is added to chapter 51.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department of labor and industries, in consultation with the workers' compensation advisory committee, may conduct pilot projects to authorize advanced registered nurse practitioners to examine, diagnose, and treat injured workers covered by industrial insurance in accordance with sections 1 through 16 of this act. The functions of an advanced registered nurse practitioner who is participating in a project and who is the attending provider for a claimant include signing accident report forms and certifying temporary total disability compensation. Their functions also include providing health services within their scope of practice as described in sections 1 through 3 and 5 through 16 of this act. The projects shall assess the effects of authorizing advanced registered nurse practitioners to provide such services on the cost and quality of industrial insurance health services, and the ability of the department to manage these services and to prevent the provision of medically unnecessary or inappropriate services.

(2) The department may conduct these pilot projects only in counties with a population of one hundred thousand or less.

(3) The projects shall conclude no later than June 30, 2005.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. Sections 4 and 17 of this act expire June 30, 2005."

Renumber the remaining subjection and correct internal references accordingly.

Correct the title.

EFFECT:

•Authorizes only those advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) participating in pilot projects to sign accident report forms and certify temporary total disability compensation for purposes of the workers' compensation system.

•Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industries to conduct pilot projects only in counties with a population of 100,000 or less.

•Requires that such pilot projects conclude by June 30, 2005.

•Provides for the expiration of sections providing such authority on June 30, 2005.