Bill Would Direct L&I to Contract with Managed-Care Vendor for Catastrophic Injuries

A bill awaiting consideration by the Washington state Senate would require the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations to contract with a vendor to manage care for catastrophically injured workers. The Senate Commerce & Labor Committee voted on Feb. 13 to approve Senate Bill 5418 by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent. On Feb. 23, the Rules Committee made the bill eligible for a second reading in the Senate. The Senate votes after three readings of the bill. SB 5418 would direct L&I to establish a pilot program for managing the treatment of at least 10 catastrophically injured worke...