BILL REQ. #:  S-0741.1 

Read first time 01/25/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to discrimination against chiropractors; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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) For the purpose of this section, "contractor" means third-party payor as defined in RCW 70.02.010 and any organization engaged in the business of creating health care provider networks for use by a third-party payor.
     (2) Contractors may not develop and employ provider payment methodologies that discriminate against chiropractors by setting differing payment formulas for a chiropractor's services than for a different profession's services when the contractor is reimbursing for the same type of health care services. The contractor may not have a methodology that would pay chiropractors less than any other provider for the same payment code.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2007, and applies to all provider contracts that are executed, continued, or renewed on and after January 1, 2008, and to all reimbursement of services by contractors on and after January 1, 2008.