Washington’s workers’ compensation system underwent significant reform in 2011 with the adoption of the Medical Provider Network (MPN), which aligned care for injured workers with evidence-based treatment guidelines and recognized best practices. Since then, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has supported these goals through committees and programs focused on improving medical quality and return-to-work results.
During the current legislative session, lawmakers are considering HB 2218 and SB 5847, which would expand provider discretion and worker access to care.
Key provisions include allowing attending providers to depart from established treatment guidelines whenever they determine those guidelines are not medically appropriate, without additional standards or review requirements. The legislation would also restrict employers from “inducing” workers to seek care from specific medical providers, with substantial penalties for violations. These restrictions could limit employers’ ability to share information or offer modest incentives encouraging care from providers with demonstrated recovery outcomes, including those participating in the Center of Occupational Health and Education (COHE) program.
In addition, the bills would permit workers to access out-of-network providers if no in-network provider is available within 15 miles, a distance commonly traveled by many Washington residents, including those in urban areas.
The proposals were introduced without formal input from L&I, and stakeholders continue to assess how the changes may interact with existing reforms and affect system costs, care coordination, and long-term outcomes as the legislative process continues.
