Bill Would Extend Good Faith Duty to All Self-Insureds, TPAs

The Washington Senate passed a bill that would extend the duty of good faith and fair dealing to all self-insured employers and third-party administrators. The Senate on Wednesday voted 29-20 to pass SB 5436, by Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-West Seattle. Former Gov. Jay Inslee in May 2023 signed House Bill 1521, requiring self-insured municipal employers, self-insured private sector firefighter employers and third-party administrators serving these employers to abide by a duty of good faith and fair dealing with regard to workers' compensation issues. "The duty of good faith requires fai...