Section 21.86.075. Chiropractic health care services.

   (a) An enrollee may use the services of a licensed chiropractor of the enrollee's choosing and may not be required to obtain the prior approval of the enrollee's health maintenance organization, a gatekeeper, or primary care physician. Within 10 days after an enrollee's first visit, a chiropractor shall transmit a report containing the enrollee's primary complaint, related history, examination findings, initial diagnosis, and treatment plan to the enrollee's health maintenance organization. If the enrollee and the enrollee's chiropractor determine that the condition of the enrollee has not improved within 30 days after the initial treatment, the chiropractor shall refer the enrollee back to the enrollee's health maintenance organization for examination and possible concurrent care.
   (b) If the enrollee's chiropractor recommends chiropractic treatment beyond 30 days, the chiropractor shall conduct a second examination and transmit the findings to the enrollee's health maintenance organization. The transmitted information must include the enrollee's current status regarding the primary complaint, the progress of a revised treatment plan, and the objectives for continued care.
   (c) After receiving a 30-day treatment report from a chiropractor under (b) of this section, the enrollee's health maintenance organization may request a review by another chiropractor. The reviewing chiropractor shall conduct a physical examination of the enrollee. The findings of the reviewing chiropractor must be disclosed to the enrollee and the enrollee's chiropractor. Charges for additional chiropractic care recommended by the reviewing chiropractor must be included as covered health care services provided by the health maintenance organization.
   (d) If the enrollee's treating chiropractor and the reviewing chiropractor determine that the enrollee's condition has stabilized, ongoing preventative or maintenance care is limited to two chiropractic visits a month. If the treating chiropractor and the reviewing chiropractor disagree on the enrollee's continued treatment, the enrollee and the health maintenance organization shall jointly select a third chiropractor to review the enrollee's chiropractic treatment. Selection of a third chiropractor must occur not more than 60 days after the date of the enrollee's initial treatment by the enrollee's treating chiropractor. Until the third chiropractor's opinion is received in writing by the enrollee and the health maintenance organization, the enrollee may receive chiropractic treatment recommended by the treating chiropractor. The opinion of the third chiropractor as to continued chiropractic treatment is binding on the enrollee and the health maintenance organization. This subsection does not apply if a new documented injury or a substantial exacerbation of the enrollee's previous primary complaint occurs.

Notes

History

(Sec. 4 ch 60 SLA 1998)