BILL REQ. #:  H-5057.1 

Read first time 03/01/2004.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

     AN ACT Relating to lowering the liability limits for the midwife joint underwriting association; and amending RCW 48.87.050.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.87.050 and 1994 c 90 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     A licensee may apply to the association to purchase midwifery and birth center malpractice insurance and the association shall offer a policy with liability limits of ((one million)) five hundred thousand dollars per claim and three million dollars per annual aggregate((, or such other minimum level of mandated coverage as determined by the department of health)). The insurance commissioner shall require the use of a rating plan for midwifery malpractice insurance that permits rates to be modified according to practice volume. Any rating plan for midwifery malpractice insurance used under this section must be based on sound actuarial principles. Coverage may not exclude midwives who engage in home birth or birth center deliveries.