PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Small Employer Health Insurance Partnership)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Rules regarding the administration and implementation of the small employer health insurance partnership program created by chapter 255, Laws of 2006.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.47A.060.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2006 legislature passed E2SHB 2572 (chapter 255, Laws of 2006), creating the small employer health insurance partnership program to provide a premium subsidy for eligible employees of small employers. Rules are necessary to administer the program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The office of the insurance commissioner (OIC) is responsible for certifying benefit plans for this program.
Process for Developing New Rule: Stakeholder mailings and public hearing.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Information regarding this rule making will be posted on the agency web site, http://www.hca.wa.gov/laws or you may contact Rebecca Burch, P.O. Box 42683, Olympia, WA 98504-2683, fax (360) 923-2610, e-mail Rebecca.Burch@hca.wa.gov.
September 19, 2006
Beth Dupre
Deputy Administrator
Rules Coordinator