BILL REQ. #:  H-4811.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/02/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to insurance coverage of the sales tax for prescribed durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment; and adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2011, that include coverage for prescribed durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment must include the sales tax or use tax calculation in plan payment, consistent with the application of sales tax in chapter 82.08 RCW or use tax in chapter 82.12 RCW.
     (2) The payment for covered durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment must:
     (a) Reflect the negotiated provider agreement for the prescribed equipment; and
     (b) Separately identify the sales tax or use tax calculation that is included in the payment if the provider submitting a claim or invoice for reimbursement submits to the health plan a claim or invoice with a separate line item for the geographically adjusted sales tax.
     (3) The following definitions apply to this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Durable medical equipment" means equipment, including repair and replacement parts for durable medical equipment that:
     (i) Can withstand repeated use;
     (ii) Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose;
     (iii) Generally is not useful to a person in the absence of illness or injury; and
     (iv) Is not worn in or on the body.
     (b) "Mobility enhancing equipment" means equipment, including repair and replacement parts for mobility enhancing equipment that:
     (i) Is primarily and customarily used to provide or increase the ability to move from one place to another and that is appropriate for use either in a home or a motor vehicle;
     (ii) Is not generally used by persons with normal mobility; and
     (iii) Does not include any motor vehicle or equipment on a motor vehicle normally provided by a motor vehicle manufacturer.