BILL REQ. #:  Z-0491.2 

Read first time 01/23/2007.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to industrial insurance medical and chiropractic advisory committees for the department of labor and industries; and adding new sections 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) The department may establish an industrial insurance medical advisory committee. The industrial insurance medical advisory committee shall advise the department on matters related to the provision of safe, effective, and cost-effective treatments for injured workers, including but not limited to the development of practice guidelines and coverage criteria, review of coverage decisions and technology assessments, review of medical programs, and review of rules pertaining to health care issues. The industrial insurance medical advisory committee may provide peer review and advise and assist the department in the resolution of controversies, disputes, and problems between the department and the providers of medical care. The committee must consider the best available scientific evidence and expert opinion of committee members. The department may hire any expert or service or create an ad hoc committee, group, or subcommittee it deems necessary to fulfill the purposes of the committee.
     (2) The industrial insurance medical advisory committee is composed of up to twelve members appointed by the director. The director must consider nominations from statewide clinical groups, specialties, and associations, including but not limited to the following: Family or general practice, orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery, general surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, internal medicine, osteopathic, and occupational medicine. At least two members must be physicians who are recognized for expertise in evidence-based medicine.
     (3) The members of the advisory committee, including hired experts and any ad hoc group or subcommittee: (a) Are immune from civil liability for any official acts performed in good faith to further the purposes of the committee; and (b) may be compensated for participation in the work of the committee in accordance with a personal services contract to be executed after appointment and before commencement of activities related to the work of the committee.
     (4) The members of the advisory committee shall disclose all potential financial conflicts of interest including contracts with or employment by a manufacturer, provider, or vendor of health technologies, drugs, medical devices, diagnostic tools, or other medical services during their term or for eighteen months before their appointment. As a condition of appointment, each person must agree to the terms and conditions regarding conflicts of interest as determined by the director.
     (5) The advisory committee shall meet at the times and places designated by the director and hold meetings during the year as necessary to provide advice to the director. Meetings of the committee are subject to chapter 42.30 RCW, the open public meetings act.
     (6) The advisory committee shall coordinate with the state health technology assessment program and state prescription drug program as necessary. As provided by RCW 70.14.100 and 70.14.050, the decisions of the state health technology assessment program and those of the state prescription drug program hold greater weight than decisions made by the department's industrial insurance medical advisory committee under Title 51 RCW.
     (7) Neither the advisory committee nor any group is an agency for purposes of chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (8) The department shall provide administrative support to the committee and adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 51.36 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department may establish an industrial insurance chiropractic advisory committee. The industrial insurance chiropractic advisory committee shall advise the department on matters related to the provision of safe, effective, and cost-effective chiropractic treatments for injured workers. The industrial insurance chiropractic advisory committee may provide peer review and advise and assist the department in the resolution of controversies, disputes, and problems between the department and the providers of chiropractic care.
     (2) The industrial insurance chiropractic advisory committee is composed of up to nine members appointed by the director. The director must consider nominations from recognized statewide chiropractic groups such as the Washington state chiropractic association. At least two members must be chiropractors who are recognized for expertise in evidence-based practice or occupational health.
     (3) The members of the advisory committee and any ad hoc group or subcommittee: (a) Are immune from civil liability for any official acts performed in good faith to further the purposes of the committee; and (b) may be compensated for participation in the work of the committee in accordance with a personal services contract to be executed after appointment and before commencement of activities related to the work of the committee.
     (4) The members of the advisory committee shall disclose all potential financial conflicts of interest including contracts with or employment by a manufacturer, provider, or vendor of health technologies, drugs, medical devices, diagnostic tools, or other medical services during their term or for eighteen months before their appointment. As a condition of appointment, each person must agree to the terms and conditions regarding conflicts of interest as determined by the director.
     (5) The advisory committee shall meet at the times and places designated by the director and hold meetings during the year as necessary to provide advice to the director. Meetings of the committee are subject to chapter 42.30 RCW, the open public meetings act.
     (6) The advisory committee shall coordinate with the state health technology assessment program and state prescription drug program as necessary. As provided by RCW 70.14.100 and 70.14.050, the decisions of the state health technology assessment program and those of the state prescription drug program hold greater weight than decisions made by the department's industrial insurance chiropractic advisory committee under Title 51 RCW.
     (7) Neither the advisory committee nor any group is an agency for purposes of chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (8) The department shall provide administrative support to the committee and adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.