Subject of Possible Rule Making: The Washington Health Care Discount Plan Organization Act (section 18, chapter 175, Laws of 2009) require the licensing of discount plan organizations through the office of insurance commissioner. Standards will be developed to implement the licensing, reporting, and record-keeping requirements.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060, section 18, chapter 175, Laws of 2009.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: New rules will be developed to implement chapter 175, Laws of 2009 (SSB 5480). This legislation created the Washington Health Care Discount Plan Organization Act with an effective date of July 26, 2009. The legislation gives the insurance commissioner the authority to adopt rules to establish the application process to obtain a discount plan organization license and to establish reporting and record-keeping requirements.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

     Process for Developing New Rule: Send written comments by September 1, 2009, to Donna Dorris, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, Donnad@oic.wa.gov.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Donna Dorris, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, e-mail Donnad@oic.wa.gov, phone (360) 725-7040, fax (360) 586-3109.

July 22, 2009

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

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