RCW 48.150.030 Direct fee—Monthly basis—Designated contact person.

(1) A direct practice must charge a direct fee on a monthly basis. The fee must represent the total amount due for all primary care services specified in the direct agreement and may be paid by the direct patient or on his or her behalf by others.

(2) A direct practice must:

(a) Maintain appropriate accounts and provide data regarding payments made and services received to direct patients upon request; and

(b) Either:

(i) Bill patients at the end of each monthly period; or

(ii) If the patient pays the monthly fee in advance, promptly refund to the direct patient all unearned direct fees following receipt of written notice of termination of the direct agreement from the direct patient. The amount of the direct fee considered earned shall be a proration of the monthly fee as of the date the notice of termination is received.

(3) If the patient chooses to pay more than one monthly direct fee in advance, the funds must be held in a trust account and paid to the direct practice as earned at the end of each month. Any unearned direct fees held in trust following receipt of termination of the direct agreement shall be promptly refunded to the direct patient. The amount of the direct fee earned shall be a proration of the monthly fee for the then current month as of the date the notice of termination is received.

(4) The direct fee schedule applying to an existing direct patient may not be increased over the annual negotiated amount more frequently than annually. A direct practice shall provide advance notice to existing patients of any change within the fee schedule applying to those existing direct patients. A direct practice shall provide at least sixty days' advance notice of any change in the fee.

(5) A direct practice must designate a contact person to receive and address any patient complaints.

(6) Direct fees for comparable services within a direct practice shall not vary from patient to patient based on health status or sex.

[ 2007 c 267 § 5.]