Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is amending chapter 388-106 WAC, Long-term care services.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: ESHB 2687, chapter 329, Laws of 2008 (Washington state supplemental operating budget).

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESHB 2687 directs the department to amend rules in chapter 388-106 WAC to phase in full implementation of a new seventeen level CARE assessment payment system by July 1, 2008.

     Currently, the department assigns a home and community residential client to one of twelve CARE classifications. The development of seventeen CARE classifications for home and community residential clients will allow the department to more accurately assess residential clients' level of need. After the department develops the seventeen levels of CARE classifications for home and community residential care, then it will assign a payment rate to each of the classification levels.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: There are no other agencies that regulate this subject.

     Process for Developing New Rule:       Negotiated rule making, DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Susan Engels, Home and Community Services, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, phone (360) 725-2353, fax (360) 438-8633, TTY (360) 493-2637, e-mail EngelSS@dshs.wa.gov.

May 5, 2008

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

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