Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 48.49 - Balance Billing Protection Act.
48.49.190 - Reports to legislature.

RCW 48.49.190
Reports to legislature.

(1) On or before October 1, 2023, the commissioner, in collaboration with the health care authority and the department of health, must submit a report and any recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature as to how balance billing for ground ambulance services can be prevented and whether ground ambulance services should be subject to the balance billing restrictions of this chapter. In developing the report and any recommendations, the commissioner must:
(a) Consider any recommendations made to congress by the advisory committee established in section 117 of P.L. 116-260 to review options to improve the disclosure of charges and fees for ground ambulance services, better inform consumers of insurance options for such services, and protect consumers from balance billing; and
(b) Consult with the department of health, the health care authority, the state auditor, consumers, hospitals, carriers, private ground ambulance service providers, fire service agencies, and local governmental entities that operate ground ambulance services, and include their perspectives in the final report.
(2) For purposes of this section, "ground ambulance services" means organizations licensed by the department of health that operate one or more ground vehicles designed and used to transport the ill and injured and to provide personnel, facilities, and equipment to treat patients before and during transportation.

[ 2022 c 263 § 21.]
NOTES:

Effective date—2022 c 263: See note following RCW 43.371.100.

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 48 - Insurance

Chapter 48.49 - Balance Billing Protection Act.

48.49.003 - Findings—Intent—2019 c 427.

48.49.005 - Short title.

48.49.010 - Definitions.

48.49.020 - Balance billing—When prohibited—Carrier's duty to hold an enrollee harmless from balance billing under certain circumstances.

48.49.030 - Enrollee's obligation to pay for services.

48.49.040 - Dispute resolution process—Determination of commercially reasonable payment amount.

48.49.050 - Commissioner's annual report on dispute resolution information regarding arbitration over commercially reasonable payment amounts.

48.49.060 - Notice of consumer rights—Development of standard template language by commissioner.

48.49.070 - Hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, or behavioral health emergency services provider—Requirement to provide certain information on website or upon consumer request—Requirement to provide carriers with nonemployed provider lists.

48.49.080 - Health care provider—Requirement to provide certain information on website or upon consumer request—Requirement to submit network status information to carriers.

48.49.090 - Carrier—Requirement to update website and provider directory—Requirement to provide enrollee with certain information.

48.49.100 - Pattern of unresolved violations—Enforcement action by department of health or appropriate disciplining authority.

48.49.110 - Rule-making authority.

48.49.120 - No application of chapter to health plans under chapter 74.09 RCW.

48.49.130 - Application of chapter to self-funded group health plans that elect to participate in balance billing protection provisions—Annual notice to commissioner.

48.49.135 - Determining the adequacy of provider networks—Required considerations.

48.49.140 - Liberal construction of chapter to promote public interest.

48.49.160 - Allowed amounts paid to nonparticipating providers.

48.49.170 - Application of state and federal requirements—Applicability information access—Waivers prohibited.

48.49.180 - Commissioner authority—Enforcement—Penalties.

48.49.190 - Reports to legislature.

48.49.900 - Effective date—2019 c 427.