URGENT ACTION REQUIRED ON SSB5930

03-19-07

Dear Chiropractors:

This year the legislature seems willing to sacrifice the "every category of provider" law in at least one small group health plan sold to businesses. The Washington State Chiropractic Association opposes this action in any health plan because it is not fair to consumers covered by these health plans, or the providers who treat these covered conditions with different, and more effective, methods.

Today, March 19, 2007, SSB 5930 will be heard in the House Health & Wellness committee that would do just that, remove the patient's right to choose their treatment of choice in all health plans.

You and your patients should call your Representatives, and the Governor, to tell them to restore the "every category of provider" provision in SSB 5930 and allow patients to choose the method of their choice when treating a covered condition.

• Why should insurers direct health care to physicians only?
• Why should insurers only cover invasive, drug based approaches when treating your conditions?
• Why should insurers cover, without question, less effective and more costly services to treating your covered condition? Chiropractic saves money.

Do not support this bill as amended in the Senate. We oppose sections 46-54 of E2SSB 5930. Leave the "every category of provider" (ECOP) law in all health plans.

Your calls can be made today through March 30. We will let you know when a change is made to make this a better bill. Don't stop the pressure. If Representatives and the Governor don't hear that this is hurtful to you, especially as a small business, the law will be jeopardized.

Brief History of the ECOP:

• Passed by the legislature in 1993.
• Insurers sued the State and fought all the way to the US Supreme Court.
• US Supreme Court agreed with decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that ECOP is NOT a mandated benefit.
• In 2000, insurers were directed to comply with the law, directing carriers to have a network of providers available for patients to choose from to treat covered conditions.*

*Even with this law, the benefit limits for services offered by non-medical providers is extremely limited and tightly managed simply because of the personal bias of the insurer decision-makers. DON'T let the legislature take any part of this law away! Make your voice heard now.

Honorable Governor Christine Gregoire – 360-902-4111
Email to Governor Gregoire needs to be sent through a form on her website at www.governor.wa.gov.

Click here for a complete listing of the districts with legislative contact information.