Subject of Possible Rule Making: Vision services, chapter 388-544 WAC. MAA plans to reorganize the vision care rules to ensure consistency with other MAA program rules, to clarify current program policy, to add coverage for disposable contact lenses, and to discontinue or limit coverage for glass lenses. During the course of this review, MAA may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or to update policy.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.09.080, 74.09.510, 74.09.520, and 42 C.F.R. 440.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: MAA is planning to change its vision care program policy regarding glass lenses because of their increased cost and declining availability. The industry standard of practice is moving towards all plastic lenses and moving away from the yearly replacement of contact lenses and towards disposable replacement contact lenses. MAA will work with identified stakeholders to develop new vision care rules to closer align with industry standards.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this rule. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Wendy Boedigheimer, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 45533, Olympia, WA 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail boediwl@dshs.wa.gov, TDD 1-800-848-5429.

March 15, 2004

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit