The following definitions apply to WAC
284-43-5400 through
284-43-5820 unless the context indicates otherwise.
"Base-benchmark plan" means the small group plan with the largest enrollment, as designated in WAC
284-43-5600(1) or
284-43-5602(1), prior to any supplementation or adjustments made pursuant to RCW
48.43.715.
"EHB-benchmark plan" means the set of benefits that an issuer must include in nongrandfathered plans offered in the individual or small group market in Washington state.
"Health benefit," unless defined differently pursuant to federal rules, regulations, or guidance issued pursuant to section 1302(b) of PPACA, means health care items or services for injury, disease, or a health condition, including a behavioral health condition.
"Individual plan" includes any nongrandfathered health benefit plan offered, issued, or renewed by an admitted issuer in the state of Washington for the individual health benefit plan market, unless the certificate of coverage is issued to an individual pursuant to or issued through an organization meeting the definition established pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 1002(5).
"Mandated benefit" or "required benefit" means a health plan benefit for a specific type of service, device or medical equipment, or treatment for a specified condition or conditions that a health plan is required to cover by either state or federal law. Required benefits do not include provider, delivery method, or health status based requirements.
"Meaningful health benefit" means a benefit that must be included in an essential health benefit category, without which the coverage for the category does not reasonably provide medically necessary services for an individual patient's condition on a nondiscriminatory basis.
"Medical necessity determination process" means the process used by a health issuer to make a coverage determination about whether a health benefit is medically necessary for an individual patient.
"PPACA" means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), and any rules, regulations, or guidance issued thereunder.
"Scope or limitation requirement" means a requirement applicable to a benefit that limits its duration, the number of times coverage is available for the benefit, or imposes a legally permitted eligibility or reference-based limitation on a specific benefit.
"Small group plan" includes any nongrandfathered health benefit plan offered, issued, or renewed by an admitted issuer in the state of Washington for the small group health benefit plan market to a small group, as defined in RCW
48.43.005, and 45 C.F.R. 144.102(c), unless the certificate of coverage is issued to a small group pursuant to a master contract held by or issued through an organization meeting the definition established pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 1002(5).
"Stand-alone dental plan" means coverage for a set of benefits limited to oral care including, but not necessarily limited to, pediatric oral care, as referenced in RCW
43.71.065.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
48.02.060. WSR 16-14-106 (Matter No. R 2016-11), § 284-43-5410, filed 7/6/16, effective 8/6/16. WSR 16-01-081, recodified as § 284-43-5410, filed 12/14/15, effective 12/14/15. Statutory Authority: RCW
48.02.060,
48.21.241,
48.21.320,
48.44.050,
48.44.341,
48.44.460,
48.46.200,
48.46.291,
48.46.530,
48.43.715, and Pub. L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (Mar. 23, 2010) (PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), Pub. L. No. 111-152, 124 Stat. 1029 (Mar. 30, 2010), in particular § 1302 of PPACA, § 10104 (b)(1) (HCERA). WSR 13-15-025 (Matter No. R 2012-17), § 284-43-852, filed 7/9/13, effective 7/10/13.]