S-0564.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5313

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Wojahn, Zarelli, Thibaudeau, Deccio and Winsley

Read first time 01/19/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Limiting the scope of mental health record audits.

    AN ACT Relating to the scope of mental health record audits; and adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:

    Every health carrier that provides coverage for any outpatient mental health service shall comply with the following requirements:

    (1) In performing a utilization review of mental health services for a specific enrollee, the person performing the utilization review is limited to accessing only the specific health care information for the particular enrollee in question that is necessary to complete the review.

    (2) In performing an audit of mental health services, the person performing the audit is limited to accessing only the records of persons covered by the specific health carrier for which the audit is being performed, except as otherwise permitted by RCW 70.02.050 and 71.05.630.

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