PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Purpose: This filing amends WAC 388-14A-1020 (definitions section), 388-14A-4100 and other related sections and adopts new rules as well. See below for a listing of all rules covered by this notice. These rules describe how the DSHS Division of Child Support (DCS) enforces medical child support obligations using a federal form called the national medical support notice (NMSN).
DCS has adopted emergency rules under WSR 04-07-057, effective March 22, 2004, and then under WSR 04-14-054, effective June 30, 2004, so that we could start using the NMSN as soon as possible. These emergency rules will be superseded by this permanent rule on the effective date.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-14A-1020 What definitions apply to the rules
regarding child support enforcement?, 388-14A-4040 DCS can
serve some collection actions by electronic service,
388-14A-4100 How does ((Can))the division of child support
((make me)) enforce my obligation to provide health insurance
for my children?, 388-14A-4110 If my support order requires me
to provide health insurance for my children, what do I have to
do?, 388-14A-4120 DCS ((serves a)) uses the National Medical
Support Notice ((of enrollment)) to enforce an obligation to
provide health insurance coverage and 388-14A-4130 What must
((an employer or union who receives a notice of enrollment
do)) a plan administrator do after receiving a National
Medical Support Notice from the division of child support?;
and new sections WAC 388-14A-4121 Can a Washington employer
assume that every National Medical Support Notice that the
employer receives is from the division of child support?,
388-14A-4122 What kind of information is included in the
National Medical Support Notice?, 388-14A-4123 What can happen
if the employer fails to comply with the terms of the National
Medical Support Notice?, 388-14A-4124 Who are the parties
involved with the National Medical Support Notice?,
388-14A-4125 What must an employer do after receiving a
National Medical Support Notice?, 388-14A-4126 What kind of
help is available for an employer or plan administrator who
has questions about the National Medical Support Notice?,
388-14A-4135 What must the plan administrator do when the
noncustodial parent has health insurance but the children are
not included in the coverage?, 388-14A-4140 What must the plan
administrator do when the noncustodial parent is eligible for
health insurance but is not yet enrolled?, 388-14A-4143 What
must the plan administrator do when the employer provides
health insurance but the noncustodial parent is not yet
eligible for coverage?, 388-14A-4145 What must the plan
administrator do when the insurance plan in which the
noncustodial parent is enrolled does not provide coverage
which is accessible to the children?, 388-14A-4150 What must
the plan administrator do when the noncustodial parent has
more than one family?, 388-14A-4160 Are there any limits on
the amount a noncustodial parent may be required to pay for
health insurance premiums?, 388-14A-4165 What happens when a
noncustodial parent does not earn enough to pay child support
plus the health insurance premium?, 388-14A-4170 How long does
a National Medical Support Notice or other notice of
enrollment remain in effect?, and 388-14A-4175 Is an employer
obligated to notify the division of child support when
insurance coverage for the children ends?
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.20A.310.
Other Authority: RCW 26.18.170; 42 U.S.C. 666 (a)(19), Child Support Performance and Incentives Act of 1998; 45 C.F.R. 303.31; and 45 C.F.R. 303.32.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-13-139 on June 22, 2004.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Editorial changes only.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 15, Amended 6, 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 0, 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 15, Amended 6, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 11, 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 04-18 issue of the Register.