Balance billing — When prohibited — Carrier's duty to hold an enrollee harmless from balance billing under certain circumstances.
RCW 48.49.020
in effect(1) A nonparticipating provider or facility may not balance bill an enrollee for the following health care services as provided in section 2799A-1(b) of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111(b)) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022: (a) Emergency services provided to an enrollee; (b) Nonemergency health care services performed by nonparticipating providers at certain participating facilities; or (c) Air ambulance services. (2) Payment for services described in subsection (1) of this section is subject to the provisions of sections 2799A-1 and 2799A-2 of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 300gg-111 and 300gg-112) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022, except that: (a) Until July 1, 2023, or a later date determined by the commissioner, RCW 48.49.160 and 48.49.040 apply to the nonparticipating provider or facility payment standard and dispute resolution process for services described in subsection (1) of this section, other than air ambulance services; (b) A health care provider, health care facility, or air ambulance service provider may not request or require a patient at any time, for any procedure, service, or supply, to sign or otherwise execute by oral, written, or electronic means, any document that would attempt to avoid, waive, or alter any provision of RCW 48.49.020 and 48.49.030 or sections 2799A-1 et seq. of the public health service act (P.L. 116-260) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022; (c) If the enrollee pays a nonparticipating provider, nonparticipating facility, or nonparticipating air ambulance service provider an amount that exceeds the in-network cost-sharing amount determined under sections 2799A-1 and 2799A-2 of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 300gg-111 and 300gg-112) and implementing federal regulations as in effect on March 31, 2022, the provider or facility must refund any amount in excess of the in-network cost-sharing amount to the enrollee within 30 business days of receipt. Interest must be paid to the enrollee for any unrefunded payments at a rate of 12 percent beginning on the first calendar day after the 30 business days; and (d) Carriers must make available through electronic and other methods of communication generally used by a provider to verify enrollee eligibility and benefits information regarding whether an enrollee's health plan is subject to the requirements of this chapter or section 2799A-1 et seq. of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111 et seq.) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022. (3) A behavioral health emergency services provider may not balance bill an enrollee for emergency services provided to an enrollee. (4) Payment for emergency services provided by behavioral health emergency services providers under subsection (3) of this section is subject to RCW 48.49.030 , 48.49.160 , and 48.49.040 . (5) This section applies to health care providers, facilities, or behavioral health emergency services providers 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 , 48.49.160 , and 48.49.040 as provided in RCW 48.49.130 .
(1) A nonparticipating provider or facility may not balance bill an enrollee for the following health care services as provided in section 2799A-1(b) of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111(b)) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022:
(a) Emergency services provided to an enrollee;
(b) Nonemergency health care services performed by nonparticipating providers at certain participating facilities; or
(c) Air ambulance services.
(2) Payment for services described in subsection (1) of this section is subject to the provisions of sections 2799A-1 and 2799A-2 of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 300gg-111 and 300gg-112) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022, except that:
(a) Until July 1, 2023, or a later date determined by the commissioner, RCW 48.49.160 and 48.49.040 apply to the nonparticipating provider or facility payment standard and dispute resolution process for services described in subsection (1) of this section, other than air ambulance services;
(b) A health care provider, health care facility, or air ambulance service provider may not request or require a patient at any time, for any procedure, service, or supply, to sign or otherwise execute by oral, written, or electronic means, any document that would attempt to avoid, waive, or alter any provision of RCW 48.49.020 and 48.49.030 or sections 2799A-1 et seq. of the public health service act (P.L. 116-260) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022;
(c) If the enrollee pays a nonparticipating provider, nonparticipating facility, or nonparticipating air ambulance service provider an amount that exceeds the in-network cost-sharing amount determined under sections 2799A-1 and 2799A-2 of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 300gg-111 and 300gg-112) and implementing federal regulations as in effect on March 31, 2022, the provider or facility must refund any amount in excess of the in-network cost-sharing amount to the enrollee within 30 business days of receipt. Interest must be paid to the enrollee for any unrefunded payments at a rate of 12 percent beginning on the first calendar day after the 30 business days; and
(d) Carriers must make available through electronic and other methods of communication generally used by a provider to verify enrollee eligibility and benefits information regarding whether an enrollee's health plan is subject to the requirements of this chapter or section 2799A-1 et seq. of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-111 et seq.) and implementing federal regulations in effect on March 31, 2022.
(3) A behavioral health emergency services provider may not balance bill an enrollee for emergency services provided to an enrollee.
(4) Payment for emergency services provided by behavioral health emergency services providers under subsection (3) of this section is subject to RCW 48.49.030 , 48.49.160 , and 48.49.040 .
(5) This section applies to health care providers, facilities, or behavioral health emergency services providers 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 , 48.49.160 , and 48.49.040 as provided in RCW 48.49.130 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.49&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026