PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Establishing the health insurance partnership (HIP).
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 70.47A RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The HIP is a new program designed to assist small employers who do not currently offer health insurance due to cost and their low-wage employees to access health insurance coverage. HIP will provide premium subsidies for low-income employees, their spouses, and dependents. The health care authority must develop rules so the program can begin accepting applications on January 1, 2009, for coverage beginning March 1, 2009.
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) and the department of social and health services (DSHS). Representatives from OIC and DSHS will be included in development and review of these rules.
Process for Developing New Rule: Meetings with OIC and DSHS representatives, stakeholder mailings, collection and review of stakeholder comments, and public hearings.
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 Bob Longhorn, P.O. Box 42700, Olympia, WA 98504-2700, fax (360) 923-2766, e-mail HIPrules@hca.wa.gov.
March 27, 2008
Jason Siems
Rules Coordinator