RCW 48.47.020

Submission of mandated health benefit proposal—Review—Benefit must be authorized by law.

Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case Washington Physicians Service Ass'n v. Gregoire (1998)

Most recently applied in 22 Employee Benefits Cas. 1297, 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 4676, 98 Daily Journal D.A.R. 6641 Washington Physicians Service Association Medical Service Corporation of Eastern Washington, a Health Care Service Contractor Good Health Plan of Washington, a Health Maintenance Organization Pacificare of Washington, a Health Care Service Contractor Selectcare Health Plans, a Health Maintenance Qualmed Washington Health Plan, Inc., a Health Maintenance Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, a Health Maintenance Organization Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oregon, a Health Care Service Contractor Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, a Health Maintenance Organization Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, a Health Care Service Pierce County Medical Bureau, Inc., a Health Care Service King County Medical Blue Shield, a Health Care Service v. Christine O. Gregoire, in Her Official Capacity as Attorney General for the State of Washington Deborah Senn, in Her Official Capacity as Insurance Commissioner of the State of Washington (August 1998)

1997 c 412 s 3; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 221; 1987 c 150 s 79; 1984 c 56 s 2

Mandated health benefits shall be established as follows:

(1) Every person who, or organization that, seeks to establish a mandated benefit shall, at least ninety days prior to a regular legislative session, submit a mandated benefit proposal to the appropriate committees of the legislature, assessing the social impact, financial impact, and evidence of health care service efficacy of the benefit in strict adherence to the criteria enumerated in RCW 48.47.030.

(2) The chair of a committee may request that the department examine the proposal using the criteria set forth in RCW 48.47.030, however, such request must be made no later than nine months prior to a subsequent regular legislative session.

(3) To the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, the department shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on the appropriateness of adoption no later than thirty days prior to the legislative session during which the proposal is to be considered.

(4) Mandated benefits must be authorized by law.

Official source: Washington State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Washington statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.