| About Crime Victims Compensation | in Spanish |  |
Crime Victims' Compensation program history
Washington's Crime Victims' Compensation program began primarily as the result of a series of editorials in the early 1970s in the state's two major newspapers.
The theme of the editorials was that criminals were having their room and board and medical needs met by the state's prison system while victims were left with medical bills and other costs to pay because of the offender's crime.
The Legislature deemed this unfair and in 1973 passed the crime victims compensation act.
We pay after other resources are exhausted
State law requires victims to exhaust other insurance resources, both public and private, before using the benefits of the Crime Victims' Compensation program. The victim and attending provider are notified at the time of claim allowance that a change in providers is required if the provider is not covered by the victim's public or private insurance.
State law does not allow a choice of provider when the victim has insurance. Some insurance restricts clients to use contracted providers. Verifying insurance and determining if you can provide treatment under the victim's insurance can be very important. If you are not covered, you may want to consider contacting the victim's insurance company to see if you qualify under the plan to continue to provide treatment. Early clarification of provider and insurance coverage assists the provider and victim in planning future treatment.
Once a victim's claim has been allowed, the provider cannot bill the victim for any treatment related to the crime injury. If the victim has paid for any of the treatment, the provider must refund the victim in full for amounts paid once the claim is allowed. Insurance resources must be billed first. Our program can then be billed for any remaining balances, including co-payments and deductibles. The victim should have no out-of-pocket expenses for treatment related to the crime injury.
If you have questions please call 1‑800‑762‑3716. The sooner information is clarified, the better informed the victim and provider will be on benefits we can provide to victims.
We pay for sexual-assault examinations
State law requires the Crime Victims' Compensation program to pay the costs of sexual-assault examinations when they are performed to gather evidence for possible prosecution.
A sexual-assault victim does not need to file a claim with the Crime Victims' Compensation program to be eligible for this benefit. However, any on-going treatment related to the sexual assault will be considered for payment only if an application for benefits has been filed with the program.
Costs will be reimbursed at the rates established in the industrial insurance Medical Aid Rules and Fee Schedules and/or the Crime Victims' Compensation program Mental Health Treatment Rules and Fees booklet. A provider must accept these fees as payment in full and is prohibited from billing the victim or their insurance for the balance.
Provider account number speeds payment
Providers who render services to crime victims must register with the Crime Victims' Compensation program. The program assigns a provider account number to a provider who meets eligibility requirements.
This account number should be included on all bills submitted. Failure to include this account number on billings may delay bill processing.
We perform outreach services and workshops
The Crime Victims' Compensation program provides outreach services to all interested groups.
Workshops serve to educate providers about the program's claims management
and bill payment processes. Workshops are available upon request and can
be performed at the provider's place of business. For more information,
please contact Darlene Prosser at
360‑902‑5375.
