WSR 10-06-030

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)

[ Filed February 23, 2010, 9:07 a.m. , effective February 24, 2010 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: February 24, 2010.

     Purpose: Under sections 201 and 209, chapter 564, Laws of 2009 (ESHB 1244) for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, funding for dental services is reduced from current levels. The department is amending language in sections in chapter 388-535 WAC in order to meet these targeted budget expenditure levels. The changes include, for clients through age twenty, reducing coverage of restorative services (crowns) and reducing coverage for repairs to partial dentures; for clients age twenty-one and older, reducing coverage for endodontic treatment and oral and maxillofacial surgery; and for all clients, reducing coverage for partial dentures.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-535-1084, 388-535-1090, 388-535-1100, 388-535-1261, 388-535-1266, 388-535-1267, 388-535-1269, and 388-535-1271.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.09.800.

     Other Authority: Sections 201 and 209, chapter 564, Laws of 2009 (ESHB 1244).

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that in order to implement the requirements or reductions in appropriations enacted in any budget for fiscal years 2009, 2010, or 2011, which necessitates the need for the immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the fiscal needs or requirements of the agency.

     Reasons for this Finding: Emergency rule adoption is required in order for the department to comply with sections 201 and 209 of the operating budget for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 with respect to dental services. This emergency filing is necessary to continue the current emergency rules filed as WSR 09-22-037 on October 27, 2009, while the department prepares drafts for the permanent rule to share with providers for their input. Following this, the department plans to formally adopt the permanent rules in early 2010.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 8, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 8, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: February 18, 2010.

Don Goldsby, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 10-07 issue of the Register.

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