WSR 16-11-094
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
(Washington Apple Health)
[Filed May 18, 2016, 8:43 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-551-2010 Home health services—Definitions, 182-551-2030 Home health services—Requirements, 182-551-2125 Home health services—Delivered through telemedicine, 182-551-2130 Home health services—Noncovered services, 182-551-2210 Home health services—Provider requirements, and other related rules as appropriate.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 42 C.F.R. Part 440.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is amending these rules to comply with new federal regulations under 42 C.F.R. 440 requiring that physicians document the occurrence of a face-to-face encounter (including through the use of telemedicine) within reasonable time frames when ordering home health services for medicaid eligible clients. The agency is also aligning these rules with the new final federal rules to clarify that home health services are not restricted to clients who are homebound or to services furnished solely in the home. During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Process for Developing New Rule: The agency welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, the agency will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Melinda Froud, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail Melinda.Froud@hca.wa.gov.
May 18, 2016
Wendy Barcus
Rules Coordinator