Section 284-43-0251 - Enrollee's access to providers(1) Each issuer must allow an enrollee to choose a primary care provider who is accepting new patients from a list of participating providers. (a) Enrollees also must be permitted to change primary care providers at any time with the change becoming effective not later than the beginning of the month following the enrollee's request for the change.(b) The issuer must ensure at all times that there are a sufficient number of primary care providers in the service area accepting new patients to accommodate new enrollees if the plan is open to new enrollment, and to ensure that existing enrollees have the ability to change primary care providers.(2) Each issuer must allow an enrolled child direct access to a pediatrician from a list of participating pediatricians within their network who are accepting new patients. (a)Enrollees must be permitted to change pediatricians at any time, with the change becoming effective not later than the beginning of the month following the enrollee's request for the change.(b)Each issuer must ensure at all times that there are a sufficient number of pediatricians in the service area accepting new patients to accommodate new enrollees if the plan is open to new enrollment, and to ensure that existing enrolled children have the ability to change pediatricians.(3) Each issuer must have a process whereby an enrollee with a complex or serious medical condition or mental health or substance use disorder, including behavioral health condition, may receive a standing referral to a participating specialist for an extended period of time. The standing referral must be consistent with the enrollee's medical or mental health needs and plan benefits. For example, a one-month standing referral would not satisfy this requirement when the expected course of treatment was indefinite. However, a referral does not preclude issuer performance of utilization review functions.(4) Each issuer must provide enrollees with direct access to the participating chiropractor of the enrollee's choice for covered chiropractic health care without the necessity of prior referral. Nothing in this subsection prevents issuers from restricting enrollees to seeing only chiropractors who have signed participating provider agreements or from utilizing other managed care and cost containment techniques and processes such as prior authorization for services. For purposes of this subsection, "covered chiropractic health care" means covered benefits and limitations related to chiropractic health services as stated in the plan's medical coverage agreement, with the exception of any provisions related to prior referral for services.(5) Each issuer must provide, upon the request of an enrollee, access by the enrollee to a second opinion regarding any medical diagnosis or treatment plan from a qualified participating provider of the enrollee's choice. The issuer may not impose any charge or cost upon the enrollee for such second opinion other than the charge or cost imposed for the same service in otherwise similar circumstances.(6) Each issuer must cover services of a primary care provider whose contract with the plan or whose contract with a subcontractor is being terminated by the plan or subcontractor without cause under the terms of that contract: (a)For at least sixty days following notice of termination to the enrollees; or(b)In group coverage arrangements involving periods of open enrollment, only until the end of the next open enrollment period.(i) Notice to enrollees must include information of the enrollee's right of access to the terminating provider for an additional sixty days.(ii) The provider's relationship with the issuer or subcontractor must be continued on the same terms and conditions as those of the contract the plan or subcontractor is terminating, except for any provision requiring that the issuer assign new enrollees to the terminated provider.(7) Each issuer must make a good faith effort to assure that written notice of a termination is provided at least thirty days prior to the effective date of the termination to all enrollees who are patients seen on a regular basis by the provider or facility whose contract is terminating, irrespective of whether the termination was for cause or without cause. When a termination for cause provides less than thirty days notice to the carrier or provider, an issuer must make a good faith effort to assure that written notice of termination is provided immediately to all enrollees.Wash. Admin. Code § 284-43-0251
Amended by WSR 16-01-074, Filed 12/14/2015, effective 1/14/2016Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.18.120, 48.20.450, 48.20.460, 48.30.010, 48.44.050, 48.46.100, 48.46.200, 48.43.505, 48.43.510, 48.43.515, 48.43.520, 48.43.525, 48.43.530, 48.43.535. 01-03-033 (Matter No. R 2000-02), § 284-43-251, filed 1/9/01, effective 7/1/01.