HB 2243 — Workers' comp./PTs & OTs

Summary

Including physical and occupational therapists as attending providers for workers' compensation.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 4 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 51.08.200; RCW 51.28.010; RCW 51.28.020; RCW 51.36.010.

• RCW 51.08.200

  read as follows: "Attending provider" means a person who is a member of the health care provider network established under RCW 51.36.010, is treating injured workers within the person's scope of practice, and is licensed under Title 18 RCW in one of the following professions: Physicians, chapter 18.71 RCW; osteopathy, chapter 18.57 RCW; chiropractic, chapter 18.25 RCW; naturopathy, chapter 18.36A RCW; podiatric medicine and surgery, chapter 18.22 RCW; dentistry, chapter 18.32 RCW; optometry, chapter 18.53 RCW; occupational therapy, chapter 18.59 RCW; physical therapy, chapter 18.74 RCW;

  amended

• RCW 51.28.010

  read as follows: (1) Whenever any accident occurs to a duty of such worker or someone in his o report such accident to his or her emp supervisor in charge of the work, and of report such accident and the injury re department pursuant to RCW 51.28.025 wher treatment from a physician, osteopathic naturopath, podiatric physician, optome advanced registered nurse practitione occupational therapist, physical therapist, shall adopt rules defining bo and accident prevention programs and definin

  amended

• RCW 51.28.010

  h amended to read as follows: (1) Whenever any accident hall be the duty of such worker or someo to forthwith report such accident to his tendent, or supervisor in charge of the to at once report such accident and th rom to the department pursuant to RCW 51 has received treatment from a physician, hiropractor, naturopath, podiatric physic t, licensed advanced practice registered n occupational therapist, physical therapist, (6) Claim suppression does not include bona fide workplace safety and accident prevention programs or an employer's provision at the worksite of first aid as defined by the department. The department shall adopt rules defining bona fide workplace safety and accident prevention programs and defining first aid.

  amended

• RCW 51.28.020

  read as follows: (1)(a) Where a worker is entitled to compensation under this title he or she shall file with the department or his or her self- insured employer, as the case may be, his or her application for such, together with the certificate of the physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractor, naturopath, podiatric physician, optometrist, dentist, licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner, physician assistant, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or psychologist in claims s conditions, who attended him or her. An app the department shall include a notice spe to receive health services from a provid under RCW 51.36.010(2)(a), and listing authorized to provide these services. (b) The physician, osteopathic naturopath, podiatric physician, optome advanced registered nurse practitione occupational therapist, physical therapist, (3) The application required by this section may be transmitted to the department electronically.

  amended

• RCW 51.28.020

  read as follows: (1)(a) Where a worker is entitled to compensation under this title he or she shall file with the department or his or her self- insured employer, as the case may be, his or her application for such, together with the certificate of the physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractor, naturopath, podiatric physician, optometrist, dentist, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or psychologist in claims solel itions, who attended him or her. An applic e department shall include a notice speci to receive health services from a provi e under RCW 51.36.010(2)(a), and listing thorized to provide these services. (b) The physician, o hiropractor, naturopath, podiatric physic t, licensed advanced practice registered n occupational therapist, physical therapist,

  amended

• RCW 51.36.010

  (11) The department shall report to the workers' compensation advisory committee and to the appropriate committees of the legislature on each December 1st, beginning in 2012 and ending in 2016, on the implementation of the provider network and expansion of the centers for occupational health and education. The reports must include a summary of actions taken, progress toward long-term goals, outcomes of key initiatives, access to care issues, results of disputes or controversies related to new provisions, and whether any changes are needed to further improve the occupational health best practices care of injured workers. → read as follows: (1) The legislature finds that high qua adherence to occupational health best disability and reduce loss of family inco labor and insurance costs for employers. In quality medical care in accordance with practices. To this end, the department standards for providers who treat workers self-insured employers. The department sha provider network to treat injured workers, into the network who meet those minimum shall convene an advisory group made up o designees of the workers' compensation a industrial insurance medical and chiroprac consider and advise the department related section, including development of best prac for providers in the network. The depart input of various health care provider concerning the network's implementation. required to follow the department's evidenc and treatment guidelines, policies, and m other national treatment guidelines appro The department, in collaboration with the establish additional best practice standard for a second tier within the network, bas occupational health best practices. This se and in addition to the centers for occupat established under subsection (5) of this se (2)(a) Upon the occurrence of any inju compensation under the provisions of thi receive proper and necessary medical and hands of a physician, osteopathic naturopath, podiatric physician, optome advanced registered nurse practitione occupational therapist, physical therapist, from the advisory group, shall establish waiting periods that may be imposed before a provider who has been denied or removed from the network may reapply. (7) The department may permanently remove a provider from the network or take other appropriate action when the provider exhibits a pattern of conduct of low quality care that exposes patients to risk of physical or psychiatric harm or death. Patterns that qualify as risk of harm include, but are not limited to, poor health care outcomes evidenced by increased, chronic, or prolonged pain or decreased function due to treatments that have not been shown to be curative, safe, or effective or for which it has been shown that the risks of harm exceed the benefits that can be reasonably expected based on peer-reviewed opinion. (8) The department may not remove a health care provider from the network for an isolated instance of poor health and recovery outcomes due to treatment by the provider. (9) When the department terminates a provider from the network, the department or self-insurer shall assist an injured worker currently under the provider's care in identifying a new network provider or providers from whom the worker can select an attending or treating provider. In such a case, the department or self-insurer shall notify the injured worker that he or she must choose a new attending or treating provider. (10) The department may adopt rules related to this section.

  amended

Action History

1. January 12, 2026

   First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.

Sponsors

• (Bronoske) · Primary

Subjects