Maintain and Protect “Every Category of Provider” Law
As always, the WSCA’s top priority is to maintain a
patient’s right to choose the provider of their choice for the
treatment of conditions covered in a health insurance plan.
This law has been under attack since its inception in 1996,
and the WSCA will maintain support of this law and spend
great resources to protect it.

High School Sports Physicals
The WSCA will make another effort to pass legislation allowing chiropractors to perform high school sports physicals. We ran a bill in 2002. However, there was great resistance by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), claiming that chiropractors could not perform the necessary requirements of the exams. Obviously, we don’t agree, and will work with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to
try to pass this legislation again.

Insurance Payment Recovery
This bill was attempted in the 2004 legislative session but stopped by Senate Republican leaders. It is intended to require both providers and insurers to have all claim errors settled within 12 months of a claim. If the claim is not reconciled within 12 months, the provider or the insurer will have to write off any loss
incurred regardless of fault.

Backpack Safety and Scoliosis Screening
This legislation would be intended to have teachers educate children about the appropriate amount of weight to carry in a backpack, as well as how to distribute the weight. The WSCA believes that proper education about backpack safety can help children maintain a healthy spine.

Sales Tax Collection on Nutritional Supplements
This legislation would be intended to add chiropractors to the list of providers who would be exempt from collecting sales tax on nutritional supplements.

Network Adequacy: The WSCA continues to be concerned
about the limited panel size of both insurers and networks on behalf of insurers. If there is any legislation on this subject, the WSCA will be prepared to make appropriate public testimony to assure the WSCA opinion is on the record.

Additional Issues
There are two other issues that the Board of Directors identified as issues to monitor and weigh in where appropriate: Those items are the Provider Uniform Disciplinary Act recommended changes from 2003, and the Initiative to the Legislature, #336, which is sponsored by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA). This Initiative is to the legislature and is intended to address the high medical malpractice costs by making insurers responsible for explaining their rate increases, as well as holding “at fault” providers responsible for their negligent actions.