In lieu of substitution of a provider during a period of active duty military service longer than sixty continuous days, carriers must provide contracted network providers with the opportunity to return to the carrier's network after the provider's active duty military service is completed.
(1)(a) A carrier must allow the provider a period of at least one hundred twenty days to request a return to contracted network provider status after the provider returns to civilian status.
(b) The one hundred twenty-day period must begin no earlier than the date the provider's period of active duty ends.
(2)(a) As a condition for return to the carrier's network, the carrier may require that the provider provide evidence that he or she meets the carrier's then-current standards for credentialing.
(b) If the provider meets or exceeds the credentialing standards of the carrier and timely requests a return to contracted network provider status, the carrier must grant the request whether or not the carrier's network is otherwise closed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
48.02.060. WSR 16-07-144 (Matter No. R 2016-01), recodified as § 284-170-390, filed 3/23/16, effective 4/23/16. WSR 16-01-081, recodified as § 284-43-9986, filed 12/14/15, effective 12/14/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
48.02.060 and
48.43.515. WSR 08-01-025 (Matter No. R 2005-04), § 284-43-262, filed 12/10/07, effective 1/10/08.]