H-1828              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1039

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives McMullen, Bristow, Niemi, Brekke, Braddock and J. Williams

Read first time 2/20/87 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to medical liability; and adding new sections to chapter 74.09 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

          Any physician licensed under chapter 18.71 and 18.57 RCW who provides medical services to recipients of public assistance is indemnified by the state of Washington for damages from injuries resulting from the physicians' negligence or that of his or her employees or agents for the amount by which the claim exceeds five hundred thousand dollars.  This section applies only to causes of action which arise on or after the effective date of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

          Physicians shall submit claims to the office of financial management, which shall adopt rules under chapter 34.04 RCW to carry out the purpose of section 1 of this act.