Date of Adoption: May 15, 2003.

     Purpose: To correct an erroneous cross-reference in subsection (3).

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-543-1100.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 34.05.353.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-05-054 on February 14, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

May 15, 2003

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) The medical assistance administration (MAA) covers DME and related supplies, prosthetics, orthotics, medical supplies, related services, repairs and labor charges when all of the following apply. They must be:

     (a) Within the scope of an eligible client's medical care program (see chapter 388-529 WAC);

     (b) Within accepted medical or physical medicine community standards of practice;

     (c) Prior authorized as described in WAC 388-543-1600, 388-543-1800, and 388-543-1900;

     (d) Prescribed by a qualified provider, acting within the scope of the provider's practice. The prescription must state the specific item or service requested, diagnosis, prognosis, estimated length of need (weeks or months, not to exceed six months before being reevaluated), and quantity;

     (e) Billed to the department as the payor of last resort only. MAA does not pay first and then collect from Medicare;

     (f) Medically necessary as defined in WAC 388-500-0005. The provider or client must submit sufficient objective evidence to establish medical necessity. Information used to establish medical necessity includes, but is not limited to, the following:

     (i) A physiological description of the client's disease, injury, impairment, or other ailment, and any changes in the client's condition written by the prescribing physician, licensed prosthetist and/or orthotist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist; or

     (ii) Video and/or photograph(s) of the client demonstrating the impairments as well and client's ability to use the requested equipment, when applicable.

     (2) MAA evaluates a request for any equipment or devices that are listed as noncovered in WAC 388-543-1300 under the provisions of WAC 388-501-0165.

     (3) MAA evaluates a request for a service that is in a covered category, but has been determined to be experimental or investigational under WAC ((388-531-0050)) 388-531-0550, under the provisions of WAC 388-501-0165 which relate to medical necessity.

     (4) MAA evaluates requests for covered services in this chapter that are subject to limitations or other restrictions and approves such services beyond those limitations or restrictions when medically necessary, under the standards for covered services in WAC 388-501-0165.

     (5) MAA does not reimburse for DME and related supplies, prosthetics, orthotics, medical supplies, related services, and related repairs and labor charges under fee-for-service (FFS) when the client is any of the following:

     (a) An inpatient hospital client;

     (b) Eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and is staying in a nursing facility in lieu of hospitalization;

     (c) Terminally ill and receiving hospice care; or

     (d) Enrolled in a risk-based managed care plan that includes coverage for such items and/or services.

     (6) MAA covers medical equipment and related supplies, prosthetics, orthotics, medical supplies and related services, repairs, and labor charges listed in MAA's published issuances, including Washington Administrative Code (WAC), billing instructions, and numbered memoranda.

     (7) An interested party may request MAA to include new equipment/supplies in the billing instructions by sending a written request plus all of the following:

     (a) Manufacturer's literature;

     (b) Manufacturer's pricing;

     (c) Clinical research/case studies (including FDA approval, if required); and

     (d) Any additional information the requester feels is important.

     (8) MAA bases the decision to purchase or rent DME for a client, or to pay for repairs to client-owned equipment on medical necessity.

     (9) MAA covers replacement batteries for purchased medically necessary DME equipment covered within this chapter.

     (10) MAA covers the following categories of medical equipment and supplies only when they are medically necessary, prescribed by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts, are within the scope of his or her practice as defined by state law, and are subject to the provisions of this chapter and related WACs:

     (a) Equipment and supplies prescribed in accordance with an approved plan of treatment under the home health program;

     (b) Wheelchairs and other DME;

     (c) Prosthetic/orthotic devices;

     (d) Surgical/ostomy appliances and urological supplies;

     (e) Bandages, dressings, and tapes;

     (f) Equipment and supplies for the management of diabetes; and

     (g) Other medical equipment and supplies, as listed in MAA published issuances.

     (11) MAA evaluates a BR item, procedure, or service for its medical appropriateness and reimbursement value on a case-by-case basis.

     (12) For a client in a nursing facility, MAA covers only the following when medically necessary. All other DME and supplies identified in MAA billing instructions are the responsibility of the nursing facility, in accordance with chapters 388-96 and 388-97 WAC. See also WAC 388-543-2900 (3) and (4). MAA covers:

     (a) The purchase and repair of a speech generating device (SGD), a wheelchair for the exclusive full-time use of a permanently disabled nursing facility resident when the wheelchair is not included in the nursing facility's per diem rate, or a specialty bed; and

     (b) The rental of a speciality bed.

     (13) Vendors must provide instructions for use of equipment; therefore, instructional materials such as pamphlets and video tapes are not covered.

     (14) Bilirubin lights are limited to rentals, for at-home newborns with jaundice.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.530. 02-16-054, § 388-543-1100, filed 8/1/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-01-078, § 388-543-1100, filed 12/13/00, effective 1/13/01.]

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