WSR 97-21-136

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed October 22, 1997, 9:21 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Trauma reimbursement rules, trauma care system funding.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: The Trauma Care Service Funding Act, SB 5127, which amends chapter 70.168 RCW (the EMS and Trauma Care Act).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SB 5127 amends chapter 70.168 RCW (the EMS and Trauma Act), requiring that: "The department (of health) shall establish by rule a grant program for designated trauma care services."

This bill was created for the following reason: "Emergency medical services and trauma care are provided to all residents of the state regardless of a person's ability to pay. Historically, hospitals and health care providers have been able to recover some of their financial losses incurred in caring for an uninsured or underinsured person by charging persons able to pay more. In recent years, the health care industry has undergone substantial changes. With the advent of managed health care programs and the adoption of new cost control measures, some hospitals and health care providers assert that it is difficult to shift costs for uninsured and underinsured patients onto insured patients."

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making, several statutory and other EMS and trauma care committees will participate in drafting and reviewing the proposed rules. The Office of Emergency Medical and Trauma Prevention will be working with three main core advisory groups: The Trauma Care Service Funding Workgroup, the Cost/Reimbursement Technical Advisory Committee (C/R TAC), and the Governor's EMS and Trauma Care Steering Committee. Staff from the Department of Health, Department of Social and Health Services, and other agencies will support the activities of these groups as needed. In addition, constituents including: Designated trauma services (administrator and RN trauma service coordinator), hospital, pediatric, rehabilitation, data TACs, WSMA EMS Advisory Committee, regional and local EMS/TC council offices, Licensing and Certification Advisory Committee, and Washington State Hospital, Medical, Fire and Ambulance Associations will also take part in reviewing the proposed rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Janet Griffith, Director, Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical and Trauma Prevention, P.O. Box 47853, Olympia, WA 98504-7853, phone (360) 705-6745 or 1-800-458-5281, FAX (360) 705-6706. Public WAC development work sessions will be held during November 1997. The final draft of the proposed WAC will be sent out to all affected parties before formal public hearings are held.

October 22, 1997

Bruce Miyahara