H-3434.1

HOUSE BILL 2591


State of Washington	65th Legislature	2018 Regular Session

By Representatives McBride, Harris, Blake, Vick, Sells, Smith, Ryu, Wylie, Ortiz-Self, Stanford, Pollet, Doglio, Haler, Kloba, Goodman, Steele, Robinson, and Stonier

Read first time 01/10/18. Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

AN ACT Relating to hearing instrument replacement under the industrial insurance medical aid benefit; and adding a new section to chapter 51.36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 51.36 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the other provisions of this title, if the health services that are available to an injured worker under RCW 51.36.010 include purchase of a hearing instrument, then the health services that are available must also include replacement of such hearing instrument with a new, nonrefurbished instrument at least once every five years. Such replacement must also include related services necessary to assess, select, and fit the hearing instrument.

(2) For purposes of this section, "hearing instrument" has the meaning given in RCW 18.35.010.

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