1. (1) A managed care enrollee may obtain emergency services for emergency medical conditions from any qualified medicaid provider.

   1. (a) The managed care organization (MCO) covers emergency services for MCO enrollees.
   2. (b) The agency covers emergency services for primary care case management (PCCM) enrollees.
2. (2) Emergency services for emergency medical conditions do not require prior authorization by the MCO, primary care provider (PCP), PCCM provider, or the agency.
3. (3) MCOs must cover all emergency services provided to an enrollee by a provider who is qualified to furnish medicaid services, without regard to whether the provider is a participating or nonparticipating provider.
4. (4) An enrollee who requests emergency services may receive an exam to determine if the enrollee has an emergency medical condition. What constitutes an emergency medical condition may not be limited on the basis of diagnosis or symptoms.

5. (5) The MCO must cover emergency services provided to an enrollee when:

   1. (a) The enrollee had an emergency medical condition, including cases in which the absence of immediate medical attention would not have had the outcomes specified in the definition of an emergency medical condition; and
   2. (b) The plan provider or other MCO representative instructs the enrollee to seek emergency services.
6. (6) In any disagreement between a hospital and the MCO about whether the enrollee is stable enough for discharge or transfer, or whether the medical benefits of an unstabilized transfer outweigh the risks, the judgment of the attending physician(s) actually caring for the enrollee at the treating facility prevails.

7. (7) Under 42 C.F.R. 438.114, the enrollee's MCO must cover and pay for:

   1. (a) Emergency services provided to enrollees by an emergency room provider, hospital or provider outside the managed care system; and
   2. (b) Any screening and treatment the enrollee requires after the provision of the emergency services.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2019 c 325, 2014 c 225, and 2018 c 201. WSR 19-24-063, § 182-538-100, filed 11/27/19, effective 1/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 15-24-098, § 182-538-100, filed 12/1/15, effective 1/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 42 C.F.R. 438. WSR 13-02-010, § 182-538-100, filed 12/19/12, effective 2/1/13. WSR 11-14-075, recodified as § 182-538-100, filed 6/30/11, effective 7/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.09.522. WSR 08-15-110, § 388-538-100, filed 7/18/08, effective 8/18/08; WSR 06-03-081, § 388-538-100, filed 1/12/06, effective 2/12/06; WSR 03-18-110, § 388-538-100, filed 9/2/03, effective 10/3/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.09.080, 74.08.510, [74.08.]522, 74.09.450, 1115 Waiver, 42 U.S.C. 1396. WSR 02-01-075, § 388-538-100, filed 12/14/01, effective 1/14/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.510 and [74.09.]522 and 1115 Federal Waiver, 42 U.S.C. 1396 (a), (e), (p), 42 U.S.C. 1396r-6(b), 42 U.S.C. 1396u-2. WSR 00-04-080, § 388-538-100, filed 2/1/00, effective 3/3/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18. WSR 95-18-046 (Order 3886), § 388-538-100, filed 8/29/95, effective 9/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. WSR 95-04-033 (Order 3826), § 388-538-100, filed 1/24/95, effective 2/1/95; WSR 93-17-039 (Order 3621), § 388-538-100, filed 8/11/93, effective 9/11/93.]