Requirement to designate a licensed medical director — Exemption.
RCW 48.43.540
in effectAny carrier that offers a health plan and any self-insured health plan subject to the jurisdiction of Washington state shall designate a medical director who is licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW. However, a naturopathic or complementary alternative health plan, which provides solely complementary alternative health care to individuals, groups, or health plans, may have a medical director licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW. A carrier that offers dental only coverage shall designate a dental director who is licensed under chapter 18.32 RCW, or licensed in a state that has been determined by the dental quality assurance commission to have substantially equivalent licensing standards to those of Washington. A health plan or self-insured health plan that offers only religious nonmedical treatment or religious nonmedical nursing care shall not be required to have a medical director.
Any carrier that offers a health plan and any self-insured health plan subject to the jurisdiction of Washington state shall designate a medical director who is licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW. However, a naturopathic or complementary alternative health plan, which provides solely complementary alternative health care to individuals, groups, or health plans, may have a medical director licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW. A carrier that offers dental only coverage shall designate a dental director who is licensed under chapter 18.32 RCW, or licensed in a state that has been determined by the dental quality assurance commission to have substantially equivalent licensing standards to those of Washington. A health plan or self-insured health plan that offers only religious nonmedical treatment or religious nonmedical nursing care shall not be required to have a medical director.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.43&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026