BILL REQ. #: S-4503.2

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SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5596
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State of Washington

60th Legislature

2008 Regular Session

By Senate Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Benton, Kline, Poulsen, Keiser, and Roach)

READ FIRST TIME 02/04/08.

AN ACT Relating to fair payment for chiropractic services; 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:
     (1) A health carrier may not develop and use provider and benefit payment methodologies that pay for chiropractic services in a lesser amount than the carrier pays for substantially similar health care services provided by a different profession. The carrier may not use a payment methodology that would pay chiropractors less than any other type of provider for the same billing and payment code.
     (2) This section applies only to payment methodologies developed or used on and after January 1, 2009.

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