Brief Description: Concerning contracts with chiropractors.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Benton, Zarelli, Kauffman, Kline, Carrell, Poulsen, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Delvin and Roach).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Under current law, administrators of health care provider networks may refuse to reimburse a chiropractor for services that are provided to a patient by an employee of the chiropractor rather than provided by the chiropractor directly.

Summary: Health carriers are required to reimburse chiropractors for medically necessary services if the service is covered chiropractic health care and it is provided by the chiropractor or an employee who works at the same location. Violations of the participating provider agreement by an employee of the chiropractor are deemed to have been committed by the chiropractor. Participating provider agreements provided to a chiropractor within a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation must be offered to any other chiropractor within that practice at the same location.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      39   10
House      84   10   (House amended)
Senate      41   6   (Senate concurred)

Effective:   January 1, 2008