Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: This amendment will exempt insurers from medical malpractice cancellation and nonrenewal laws if they provide only identical medical coverage and eliminate the possibility of misunderstanding or ambiguity in this section.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 284-20A-050.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.18.547.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-19-103 on September 20, 2006.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: November 29, 2006.

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

OTS-9224.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Matter No. R 2006-01, filed 8/10/06, effective 9/10/06)

WAC 284-20A-050   What constitutes a medical malpractice insurance policy for the purposes of RCW 48.18.290 (1)(b) and 48.18.2901 (1)(a)(ii)?   A medical malpractice insurance policy means an insurance policy written with the principal intent to provide medical malpractice insurance. For the purposes of this section, a policy does not include medical malpractice insurance written as ancillary coverage to a general liability or package policy if the principal exposure insured is not medical malpractice.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.18.547. 06-17-054 (Matter No. R 2006-01), § 284-20A-050, filed 8/10/06, effective 9/10/06.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office