BILL REQ. #:  H-3169.1 

Prefiled 12/15/11. Read first time 01/09/12.   Referred to Committee on Business & Financial Services.

     AN ACT Relating to air rescue or evacuation services; and amending RCW 48.01.280.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.01.280 and 2006 c 61 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A private air ambulance service that solicits membership subscriptions, accepts membership applications, charges membership fees, and provides air ambulance services, to subscription members and designated members of their household is not an insurer under RCW 48.01.050, a health carrier under chapter 48.43 RCW, a health care services contractor under chapter 48.44 RCW, or a health maintenance organization under chapter 48.46 RCW if the private air ambulance service:
     (((1))) (a) Is licensed in accordance with RCW 18.73.130;
     (((2))) (b) Attains and maintains accreditation by the commission on accreditation of medical transport services or another accrediting organization approved by the department of health as having equivalent requirements as the commission for aeromedical transport;
     (((3))) (c) Has been in operation in Washington for at least two years; and
     (((4))) (d) Has submitted evidence of its compliance with this section, the licensing requirements of RCW 18.73.130, and accreditation from the commission or another accrediting organization approved by the department of health as having equivalent requirements as the commission for aeromedical transport to the commissioner.
     (2) A subscription service that solicits membership subscriptions, charges membership fees, and provides rescue, evacuation, emergency transport, and crisis management and consulting services related to an emergency, to its members or designated members of a member's household is not an insurer under RCW 48.01.050, a health carrier under chapter 48.43 RCW, a health care services contractor under chapter 48.44 RCW, or a health maintenance organization under chapter 48.46 RCW. Rescue, evacuation, emergency transport, and crisis management and consulting services related to an emergency, include the following:
     (a) Providing rescue, evacuation, and emergency transport and crisis management services related to the emergency;
     (b) Locator services for medical and legal professionals;
     (c) Visa and passport services;
     (d) Emergency message services;
     (e) Emergency-related travel and emergency-related services and information;
     (f) Transport of human remains; and
     (g) Other services established by rule of the commissioner.
     (3) A subscription service that provides rescue, evacuation, emergency transport, and crisis management and consulting services related to an emergency as described in subsection (2) of this section must satisfy, or contract with a service provider which satisfies, the licensing requirements, if any, of the jurisdiction in which the services are provided. The requirements of subsection (1) of this section must be satisfied when providing air ambulance services within the state of Washington.
     (4) It is not required that a subscription service under subsection (1) or (2) of this section own the vehicles, planes, helicopters, other aircraft, maritime vessels, or other means of transportation that will be used to provide the contracted services.