An entity that audits claims or an independent third party that contracts with an entity to audit claims:

1. (1) Must establish, in writing, a procedure for a pharmacy to appeal the entity's findings with respect to a claim and must provide a pharmacy with a notice regarding the procedure, in writing or electronically, prior to conducting an audit of the pharmacy's claims;
2. (2) May not conduct an audit of a claim more than twenty-four months after the date the claim was adjudicated by the entity;
3. (3) Must give at least fifteen days' advance written notice of an on-site audit to the pharmacy or corporate headquarters of the pharmacy;
4. (4) May not conduct an on-site audit during the first five days of any month without the pharmacy's consent;
5. (5) Must conduct the audit in consultation with a pharmacist who is licensed by this or another state if the audit involves clinical or professional judgment;
6. (6) May not conduct an on-site audit of more than two hundred fifty unique prescriptions of a pharmacy in any twelve-month period except in cases of alleged fraud;
7. (7) May not conduct more than one on-site audit of a pharmacy in any twelve-month period;
8. (8) Must audit each pharmacy under the same standards and parameters that the entity uses to audit other similarly situated pharmacies;
9. (9) Must pay any outstanding claims of a pharmacy no more than forty-five days after the earlier of the date all appeals are concluded or the date a final report is issued under RCW 48.200.260(3);
10. (10) May not include dispensing fees or interest in the amount of any overpayment assessed on a claim unless the overpaid claim was for a prescription that was not filled correctly;

11. (11) May not recoup costs associated with:

    1. (a) Clerical errors; or
    2. (b) Other errors that do not result in financial harm to the entity or a consumer; and
12. (12) May not charge a pharmacy for a denied or disputed claim until the audit and the appeals procedure established under subsection (1) of this section are final.

[ 2020 c 240 s 11; 2014 c 213 s 4. Formerly RCW 19.340.040.]