48.41.040 - Health insurance pool -- Creation, membership, organization, operation, rules. - Washington Statutes

Health insurance pool — Creation, membership, organization, operation, rules.

(1) There is created a nonprofit entity to be known as the Washington state health insurance pool. All members in this state on or after May 18, 1987, shall be members of the pool. When authorized by federal law, all self-insured employers shall also be members of the pool.

     (2) Pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW the commissioner shall, within ninety days after May 18, 1987, give notice to all members of the time and place for the initial organizational meetings of the pool. A board of directors shall be established, which shall be comprised of ten members. The governor shall select one member of the board from each list of three nominees submitted by statewide organizations representing each of the following: (a) Health care providers; (b) health insurance agents; (c) small employers; and (d) large employers. The governor shall select two members of the board from a list of nominees submitted by statewide organizations representing health care consumers. In making these selections, the governor may request additional names from the statewide organizations representing each of the persons to be selected if the governor chooses not to select a member from the list submitted. The remaining four members of the board shall be selected by election from among the members of the pool. The elected members shall, to the extent possible, include at least one representative of health care service contractors, one representative of health maintenance organizations, and one representative of commercial insurers which provides disability insurance. The members of the board shall elect a chair from the voting members of the board. The insurance commissioner shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member. When self-insured organizations other than the Washington state health care authority become eligible for participation in the pool, the membership of the board shall be increased to eleven and at least one member of the board shall represent the self-insurers.

     (3) The original members of the board of directors shall be appointed for intervals of one to three years. Thereafter, all board members shall serve a term of three years. Board members shall receive no compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

     (4) The board shall submit to the commissioner a plan of operation for the pool and any amendments thereto necessary or suitable to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the pool. The commissioner shall, after notice and hearing pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, approve the plan of operation if it is determined to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the pool and provides for the sharing of pool losses on an equitable, proportionate basis among the members of the pool. The plan of operation shall become effective upon approval in writing by the commissioner consistent with the date on which the coverage under this chapter must be made available. If the board fails to submit a plan of operation within one hundred eighty days after the appointment of the board or any time thereafter fails to submit acceptable amendments to the plan, the commissioner shall, within ninety days after notice and hearing pursuant to chapters 34.05 and 48.04 RCW, adopt such rules as are necessary or advisable to effectuate this chapter. The rules shall continue in force until modified by the commissioner or superseded by a plan submitted by the board and approved by the commissioner.

[2000 c 80 § 1; 2000 c 79 § 7; 1989 c 121 § 2; 1987 c 431 § 4.]

Notes: Board of directors -- Dissolved -- New members -- 2000 c 79: "Sixty days from March 23, 2000, the existing board of directors of the Washington state health insurance pool shall be dissolved, and the appointment or election of new members under RCW 48.41.040 shall be effective. For purposes of setting terms, the new members shall be treated as original members." [2000 c 79 § 8.]

Effective date -- Severability -- 2000 c 79: See notes following RCW 48.04.010.