BILL REQ. #:  H-1849.1 

Read first time 02/12/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of arbitration in resolving medical staff disputes regarding membership and privileges; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 71.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is a strong interest in the prompt resolution of disputes between practitioners with medical staff membership and hospitals regarding privileges and membership disputes. The legislature finds that the use of arbitration can expedite resolution of those disputes after the hospital governing authority has made a decision.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.41 RCW to read as follows:
     Hospital governing authorities may require that disputes regarding admitting privileges or membership be resolved by arbitration after the governing authority has made its final decision. The hospital may require the practitioner to pay up to one-half of the costs of the arbitrator and may require that the prevailing party pay the attorneys' fees of the other party only where the arbitrator finds the appeal was frivolous.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 71.12 RCW to read as follows:
     Hospital governing authorities may require that disputes regarding admitting privileges or membership be resolved by arbitration after the governing authority has made its final decision. The hospital may require the practitioner to pay up to one-half of the costs of the arbitrator and may require that the prevailing party pay the attorneys' fees of the other party only where the arbitrator finds the appeal was frivolous.