Washington § 48.49.100 - Pattern of unresolved violations — Enforcement action by department of health or appropriate disciplining authority.

(1) If the commissioner has cause to believe that any health care provider, hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, or behavioral health emergency services provider, has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of RCW 48.49.020 or 48.49.030, the commissioner may submit information to the department of health or the appropriate disciplining authority for action. Prior to submitting information to the department of health or the appropriate disciplining authority, the commissioner may provide the health care provider, hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, or behavioral health emergency services provider, with an opportunity to cure the alleged violations or explain why the actions in question did not violate RCW 48.49.020 or 48.49.030.

(2) If any health care provider, hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, or behavioral health emergency services provider, has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of RCW 48.49.020 or 48.49.030, the department of health or the appropriate disciplining authority may levy a fine or cost recovery upon the health care provider, hospital, ambulatory surgical facility, or behavioral health emergency services provider in an amount not to exceed the applicable statutory amount per violation and take other action as permitted under the authority of the department or disciplining authority. Upon completion of its review of any potential violation submitted by the commissioner or initiated directly by an enrollee, the department of health or the disciplining authority shall notify the commissioner of the results of the review, including whether the violation was substantiated and any enforcement action taken as a result of a finding of a substantiated violation.

(3) If the commissioner has cause to believe that any ground ambulance services organization has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of RCW 48.49.200, the authority and process provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section apply.

(4) If a carrier has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of any provision of this chapter, the commissioner may levy a fine or apply remedies authorized under this chapter, chapter 48.02 RCW, RCW 48.44.166, 48.46.135, or 48.05.185.

(5) For purposes of this section, "disciplining authority" means the agency, board, or commission having the authority to take disciplinary action against a holder of, or applicant for, a professional or business license upon a finding of a violation of chapter 18.130 RCW or a chapter specified under RCW 18.130.040.

Effective date—2022 c 263: See note following RCW 43.371.100.