PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: All Medical Assistance Administration rules, including chapters 388-500 through 388-561 WAC.
To comply with the requirements of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191. HIPAA specifies standards that all states must meet in regard to electronic health information transactions and the privacy of client health information.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: MAA rules must be HIPAA-compliant by October 16, 2003, to avoid federal penalties.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this rule. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kevin Sullivan, MAA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45533, Olympia, WA 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1344, e-mail sullikm@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-9727, TDD 1-800-848-5429.
March 28, 2003
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit