PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-538-063 (new), 388-505-0110 (amend), and possibly other related WAC sections.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.035, 74.09.522, and ESSB 5404 (section 209(15), chapter 25, Laws of 2003 1st sp.s.).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2003 legislature directed the Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) to design and implement a medical care services management pilot project for clients who receive general assistance (GAU) benefits. The pilot project will be designed to maximize care coordination, high-risk medical management, and chronic care management to achieve better health outcomes. The pilot project will be operated in King and Pierce counties, which contain the highest concentration of general assistance clients. The pilot project will require GAU clients in these two designated counties to enroll, or be enrolled, in a managed care organization contracted with MAA. GAU scope of care and GAU medical/financial eligibility requirements are not changing.
The pilot project will not be conducted as a "pilot rule-making" under chapter 34.05 RCW.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: DSHS Economic Services Administration.
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 Wendy Boedigheimer, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 5533, Olympia, WA 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail boediwl@dshs.wa.gov, TDD 1-800-848-5429.
February 3, 2004
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit