The Washington State Balance Billing Protection Act, now contained in RCW 48.49, is in effect, as of Jan. 1, 2020. The new law includes balance billing prohibitions for certain services, a dispute resolution process for payments for out-of-network services, and various communication and transparency requirements, including the need to post information for consumers on hospital and provider websites. WSHA worked hard during the legislative and rulemaking process to ensure a fair dispute resolution process for facilities and providers and minimize administrative burden. We have also compiled a list of links and resources to assist with implementation:
- Standard notice of consumer rights
- List of participating self-funded plans
- List of arbitrators
- Information on the standard dataset for arbitration
- The final rule now contained in Chapter 284-43B WAC
Additional information is available on the WSHA website.
