S-4265               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6617

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senators Anderson and Matson

Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committee on  Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to release of health care information under industrial insurance; and amending RCW 51.36.060.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 53, chapter 289, Laws of 1971 ex. sess. as last amended by section 17, chapter 12, Laws of 1989 and RCW 51.36.060 are each amended to read as follows:

          ((Physicians)) (1) Health service providers examining or attending injured workers under this title shall:  (a) Comply with rules and regulations adopted by the director, and ((shall)) (b) make such reports as may be requested by the department or ((self-insurer)) employer upon the condition or treatment of any such worker, or upon any other matters concerning such workers in their care.  All ((medical)) health care information in the possession or control of any person and relevant to the particular injury in the opinion of the department or employer pertaining to any worker whose injury or occupational disease is the basis of a claim under this title shall be made available at any stage of the proceedings to the employer, the claimant's representative, ((and)) or the department upon request, and no health service provider or other person shall incur any legal liability by reason of releasing such information.  This section authorizes health service providers to discuss health care information within their possession or control with the employer or its representative or the department or its representative at any stage of the claim proceedings or before any court on appeal from the board.