EMERGENCY RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Purpose: To adopt rules for the reimbursement of bariatric surgery.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-531-0050, 388-531-0150, 388-531-0200, 388-531-0650, and 388-531-1600.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: Recent studies of gastric bypass surgeries in Washington show an increased likelihood of complications. Specifically for Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) clients following gastric bypass surgery, recent statistics shows a 2.1% in-hospital mortality rate (compared to 0.9% for all other patients in Washington state) and a 3.6% 30-day mortality rate following the surgery (compared to 1.7% for all other Washington state patients). The mortality rates for MAA clients in both instances are more than double that of other patients. The national mortality rate from peer-reviewed literature for gastric bypass surgery is between 0% and 1%.
Because evidence shows that surgeon experience and competence is one of the most important factors in predicting the likelihood of complications, rules are needed immediately to establish standards for selection of surgeons and hospitals performing gastric bypass surgery for MAA clients. Rules are also needed immediately to establish medical necessity criteria and pre- and post-operative requirements for clients that would further prevent the likelihood of complications.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 14, 2004.
Brian H. Lindgren, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 04-16 issue of the Register.