Each group agreement for health care services that is delivered or issued for delivery or renewed on or after January 1, 1988, must contain provisions providing benefits for the treatment of chemical dependency rendered to covered persons by a provider which is an "approved substance use disorder treatment program" under *RCW 70.96A.020(2). However, this section does not apply to any agreement written as supplemental coverage to any federal or state programs of health care including, but not limited to, Title XVIII health insurance for the aged, which is commonly referred to as Medicare, Parts A&B, and amendments thereto. Treatment must be covered under the chemical dependency coverage if treatment is rendered by the health maintenance organization or if the health maintenance organization refers the enrolled participant or the enrolled participant's dependents to a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW, or to a qualified counselor employed by an approved substance use disorder treatment program described in *RCW 70.96A.020(2). In all cases, a health maintenance organization retains the right to diagnose the presence of chemical dependency and select the modality of treatment that best serves the interest of the health maintenance organization's enrolled participant, or the enrolled participant's covered dependent.

*Reviser's note: RCW 70.96A.020 was repealed by 2016 sp.s. c 29 s 301.

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Effective date—Severability—1987 c 458: See notes following RCW 48.21.160.

Chemical dependency benefits, rules: RCW 48.21.197.