WSR 13-14-114 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [Filed July 3, 2013, 9:21 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-310 WAC, Certificate of need, the department of health (department) is opening rules to consider revisions to address health care facility affiliations, corporate restructuring, mergers and other arrangements, and greater consumer transparency, per the directive of the governor 13-12.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is directed by a directive of the governor 13-12 to initiate rule making to consider how the structures of affiliations, corporate restructuring, mergers, and other arrangements between health care facilities result in outcomes similar to traditional methods of sales, purchasing and leasing of hospitals, particularly when control of part or all of an existing hospital changes from one party to another. The department is also directed to consider ways to improve transparency for consumer information and ease of use by ensuring hospitals provide their policies of nondiscrimination, end-of-life care, and reproductive health care services to the department for posting on its web site.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certify certificate of need (CoN) hospitals. Department of social and health services (DSHS) and the health care authority (HCA) are also involved in medicaid and medicare billing and reimbursement issues for CoN hospitals. The department will coordinate with DSHS, HCA, and CMS as appropriate.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department of health will use a collaborative rule-making process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested parties may participate in the development of draft rules prior to a formal proposal by joining the department listserv, attending workshops, or providing input on draft materials. Interested parties can receive information on how to participate by contacting Janis Sigman, Program Manager, Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance, Office of Health Professions and Facilities, P.O. Box 47852, 111 Israel Road S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7853, or e-mail Janis.Sigman@doh.wa.gov, phone (360) 236-2956, or fax (360) 236-2321.
July 3, 2013
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
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