READ FIRST TIME 02/17/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to claims management by retrospective rating plan employers and groups; adding new sections to chapter 51.18 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 51.18 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to those general powers and rights deemed appropriate by the department, retrospective rating plan employers and groups who administer their plans with an approved claims administrator shall have the authority to assist the department in the processing of claims when approved by the department. However, the department retains the final authority over decisions with respect to any individual claim. Under this authority, retrospective rating plan employers and groups may do any or all of the following:
     (a) Schedule medical examinations and consultations, using only qualified persons from the department's approved examiner list. No more than two independent medical examinations for each claim may be scheduled by the claims administrator within any twenty-four month period. An independent medical examination may be scheduled when the claim file includes medical reports indicating that an examination may be necessary for any of the following reasons: Establishing a diagnosis, outlining a program of treatment, evaluating what, if any, conditions are related to the claimed industrial injury or occupational disease, determining whether an industrial injury or occupational disease has aggravated a preexisting condition, establishing an impairment rating when the claim file medical reports indicate that the worker's claim-related condition is at maximum medical improvement, evaluating whether the industrial injury or occupational disease has worsened, or evaluating the worker's mental or physical restrictions as well as the worker's ability to work. The results of any independent medical examination scheduled under this subsection must be sent by the examiner or independent medical examination panel directly to the department for the claimant's claim file. The department shall enforce penalties under RCW 51.32.110 for refusals to submit to medical examinations scheduled by retrospective rating plan employers or groups or obstruction of the same.
     (b) Schedule vocational assessments using only qualified providers from a qualified provider list developed by the department. Providers may be selected based on department quality or performance indicators and based on industry experience. Any vocational assessment resulting from a referral under this section must be sent by the vocational rehabilitation counselor directly to the department for the claimant's claim file.
     (c) Close claims as provided by this subsection. Closure of claims shall be conducted under the standards and procedures as provided in this title, except as provided in this section. If a claim with date of injury or manifestation of occupational disease on or after January 1, 2012: (i) Involves only medical treatment and/or the payment of temporary disability compensation under RCW 51.32.090 for a period of thirty days or less; (ii) at the time medical treatment is concluded, does not involve permanent disability; (iii) is one with respect to which the department has not intervened under subsection (2) of this section; and (iv) concerns an injured worker who has returned to work with the retrospective rating plan employer or employer within the group at the worker's previous job or at a job that has at least ninety-five percent of at-injury wages as calculated under RCW 51.08.178, the claim may be closed by the retrospective rating plan employer or group, subject to reporting of claims to the department in a manner prescribed by department rules adopted under chapter 34.05 RCW. No later than at the time of closure for such claims, the retrospective rating plan employer or group shall issue and send to the department and the worker a written order and forward to the worker a notification developed by the department describing in nontechnical language the worker's rights under this title.
     (2) If a dispute arises from the handling of any claim under this section, the injured worker, or retrospective rating plan employer or group, may request the department to intervene. When exercising any authority under subsection (1) of this section, a retrospective rating plan employer or group must inform a worker in writing that the worker may request the department to intervene at any time.
     (3) The department shall require the retrospective rating plan employer or group to notify the department prior to exercising any authority authorized by this section. Rules adopted under this section must minimize the department's need to respond and ensure that any delay in response by the department does not impede the timely administration of the claim. Charges incurred by the retrospective rating plan employer or group for independent medical examinations or vocational rehabilitation assessments shall be charged against the claim.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "approved claims administrator" means a person who meets department qualifications to manage industrial insurance claims for retrospective rating plan employers and groups. Any claims managers employed by the approved claims administrator to manage retrospective rating plan claims must pass a certification test approved by the department as established in rule. The department may audit or review the claims management process of a retrospective rating plan employer or group that has received authority to assist the department with the processing of claims. The director shall take corrective action, subject to appeal to the board of industrial insurance appeals, against a retrospective rating plan employer or group, if the director determines that a claims manager under its direction is not following proper industrial insurance claims procedures. Corrective actions taken by the director may include:
     (a) Probationary period of time for the claims manager;
     (b) Additional mandatory training for claims management personnel; and
     (c) Monitoring of the activities of the employer or group to determine progress towards compliance.
     The director shall adopt rules defining the corrective actions which may be taken in response to a given condition. If the director determines that compliance has been attained, no further action shall be taken. If compliance has not been attained, the director may take additional corrective action including the removal of the additional authority to assist the department in the processing of claims under this section. The withdrawal of approval revokes the ability of the approved claims administrator to exercise authority under this section, but does not otherwise affect the administrator's status or the retrospective rating plan employer or group's status in the retrospective rating program.
     (5) The department may adopt rules to implement this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 51.18 RCW to read as follows:
     Payment by an employer for direct primary care services as defined in RCW 48.150.010 does not disqualify: (1) An employer from participating in the retrospective rating plan; (2) a group sponsor from promoting a retrospective rating plan; or (3) a plan administrator from administering a retrospective rating plan. The department may adopt rules requiring a direct practice to provide such information as the department requires to establish refunds or assessments for employers or groups under this chapter. Any billing rule requiring a provider to bill for services does not apply to a direct practice. For purposes of this section, "direct practice" shall have the meaning in RCW 48.150.010.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 51.18 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a retrospective rating plan employer or group or its representative communicates with a medical provider, the employer must provide to the worker and send to the claim file a copy of any written communication received and a memorandum describing any oral communication. The copy of the written communication and memorandum describing an oral communication must be provided within seventy-two hours of receiving the information.
     (2) The information required to be provided under subsection (1) of this section must be provided regardless of the source of the information and any claim of privilege or work product.
     (3) The employer must send the information required to be provided under subsection (1) of this section to the claim file electronically. If the worker chooses, the information must be sent to the worker electronically.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 51.18 RCW to read as follows:
     A retrospective rating plan employer or group must maintain complete records of all claims administered under this chapter. The records may be maintained by service companies or at an out-of-state location under conditions and procedures established by the director. The retrospective rating plan employer or group must make the records available for inspection upon request by the department, worker or beneficiary, or their representative within five business days of the request at a location within the state requested by the department, worker or beneficiary, or representative. The expense of producing the records must be borne by the retrospective rating plan employer or group.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a study of the impact of section 1 of this act on the state's workers' compensation system, including the impact on the retrospective rating plan performance and refunds, the department's processes, and worker outcomes and satisfaction. The joint legislative audit and review committee shall submit the study to the appropriate committees of the legislature by July 1, 2015.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Sections 1 and 4 of this act expire July 1, 2016.