Title: An act relating to fees for performing independent reviews of health care disputes.

Brief Description: Developing a schedule of fees for performing independent reviews of health care disputes.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Requires that the Department of Health establish a schedule of maximum fees that may be charged by certified independent review organizations.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Edwards, Moeller, Rodne, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Health carriers that offer health plans must have a comprehensive grievance process for addressing complaints from plan enrollees about customer service or the quality or availability of a health service. Where the health carrier's grievance process has issued an unfavorable decision to an enrollee or it has exceeded mandated timelines without good cause, the enrollee may seek review by a certified independent review organization. This review is only available for those complaints pertaining to payment for health care services or the denial, modification, reduction, or termination of coverage for health care services.

The Department of Health is responsible for adopting rules to certify independent review organizations. These rules relate to the assurance of: the confidentiality of medical records; the qualifications of medical reviewers; the absence of conflicts of interest; and the fairness and timeliness of the proceedings.

By January 1, 2005, the Department of Health (Department) must develop a fee schedule that establishes reasonable maximum fees that may be charged to carriers by an independent review organization when conducting reviews. The Department must adopt rules requiring that independent review organizations assess fees to health carriers consistent with the maximum fee schedule.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Fees charged by different independent review organizations for comparable services can vary widely and health carriers cannot choose which organization they use. This will help protect health care dollars from aggressive independent review organizations.