BILL REQ. #:  S-3539.3 

Read first time 01/18/12.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to harmonizing state requirements regarding discrimination against health care providers with federal requirements; 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:
     A health carrier offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable state law. This section does not require that a health carrier contract with any health care provider willing to abide by the terms and conditions for participation established by the health carrier. Nothing in this section may be construed as preventing a health carrier from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.