RCW 48.49.020 Balance billing—When prohibited—Carrier's duty to hold an enrollee harmless from balance billing under certain circumstances. (Effective January 1, 2020.)

(1) An out-of-network provider or facility may not balance bill an enrollee for the following health care services:

(a) Emergency services provided to an enrollee; or

(b) Nonemergency health care services provided to an enrollee at an in-network hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW or an in-network ambulatory surgical facility licensed under chapter 70.230 RCW if the services:

(i) Involve surgical or ancillary services; and

(ii) Are provided by an out-of-network provider.

(2) Payment for services described in subsection (1) of this section is subject to the provisions of RCW 48.49.030 and 48.49.040.

(3)(a) Except to the extent provided in (b) of this subsection, the carrier must hold an enrollee harmless from balance billing when emergency services described in subsection (1)(a) of this section are provided by an out-of-network hospital in a state that borders Washington state.

(b)(i) Upon the effective date of federal legislation prohibiting balance billing when emergency services described in subsection (1)(a) of this section are provided by a hospital, the carrier no longer has a duty to hold enrollees harmless from balance billing under (a) of this subsection; or

(ii) Upon the effective date of an interstate compact with a state bordering Washington state or enactment of legislation by a state bordering Washington state prohibiting balance billing when emergency services described in subsection (1)(a) of this section are provided by a hospital located in that border state to a Washington state resident, the carrier no longer has a duty to hold enrollees harmless from balance billing under (a) of this subsection for services provided by a hospital in that border state. The commissioner shall engage with border states on appropriate means to prohibit balance billing by out-of-state hospitals of Washington state residents.

(4) This section applies to health care providers or facilities providing services to members of entities administering a self-funded group health plan and its plan members only if the entity has elected to participate in this section and RCW 48.49.030 and 48.49.040 as provided in RCW 48.49.130.

[ 2019 c 427 § 6.]