2009 Washington Code
Title 48 - Insurance
Chapter 48.155 - Health care discount plan organization act.
48.155.070 - Written health care provider agreements required -- Terms -- Internet web site.

Written health care provider agreements required — Terms — Internet web site.

(1)(a) A discount plan organization shall have a written health care provider agreement with all health care providers for whose health care services it provides access to a discount to its members. The written health care provider agreement may be entered into directly with the health care provider or indirectly with a health care provider network to which the health care provider belongs.

     (b) A health care provider agreement between a discount plan organization and a health care provider must provide the following:

     (i) A list of the health care services and products to be provided at a discount;

     (ii) The amount or amounts of the discounts or, alternatively, a fee schedule that reflects the health care provider's discounted rates; and

     (iii) That the health care provider may not charge members more than the discounted rates.

     (c) A health care provider agreement between a discount plan organization and a health care provider network must require that the health care provider network have written agreements with its health care providers that:

     (i) Contain the provisions described in (b) of this subsection;

     (ii) Authorize the health care provider network to contract with the discount plan organization on behalf of the health care provider; and

     (iii) Require the health care provider network to maintain an up-to-date list of its contracted health care providers and to provide the list on a monthly basis to the discount plan organization.

     (d) A health care provider agreement between a discount plan organization and an entity that contracts with a health care provider network must require that the entity, in its contract with the health care provider network, require the health care provider network to have written agreements with its health care providers that comply with (c) of this subsection.

     (e) The discount plan organization shall maintain a copy of each health care provider agreement into which it has entered and shall promptly furnish a copy of each agreement to the commissioner when requested.

     (2)(a) Each discount plan organization shall maintain on an internet web site a list of the names and addresses of the health care providers with which it has a current provider agreement directly or through a health care provider network. This list must be updated every thirty days. The internet web site address must be prominently displayed on all of its advertisements, marketing materials, brochures, and discount plan cards.

     (b) This subsection applies to those health care providers with which the discount plan organization has a current provider agreement directly as well as those health care providers that are members of a health care provider network with which the discount plan organization has a current provider agreement.

[2009 c 175 § 10.]