PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-544-1010, 388-544-1100, 388-544-1200, 388-544-1300 and 388-544-1400, hearing aid services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is revising the hearing aid services rules to incorporate Phase I of the department's restructuring plan for this program. Revisions include:
(1) Moving the hearing aid rules from chapter 388-544 WAC (shared with vision rules) into their own chapter 388-547 WAC;
(2) Creating clear section titles and clarifying text; and
(3) Including digital hearing aids under covered services to align with industry standards.
During the course of this review, the department may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or to update policy.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites interested stakeholders and the public to review and comment on draft material. For information about how to participate, contact the person 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 L. Boedigheimer, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail boediwl@dshs.wa.gov.
January 9, 2007
Jim Schnellman, Chief
Office of Administrative Resources