WSR 10-10-022

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)

[ Filed April 26, 2010, 11:02 a.m. , effective May 27, 2010 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: Revisions to this rule are necessary to: (1) Reorganize the contents for better understanding; (2) eliminate duplications and outdated information; (3) clarify the conditions under which a provider may bill a medical assistance client, or anyone on the client's behalf, for covered and noncovered services; (4) clarify that these rules apply to providers whether they serve fee-for-service or managed care clients; (5) standardize the form providers use when entering into agreements with clients to pay for covered and/or noncovered services; (6) clarify the conditions under which a provider does not need to execute the standardized form to bill a client; and (7) further clarify spenddown.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-502-0160.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 42 C.F.R. 447.15.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-04-108 on February 3, 2010.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 388-502-0160 (5)(b)(iv), the department added the following as a result of stakeholder comments:

     (iv) Covered by the department or the client's department-contracted MCO and does not require authorization, but the client has requested a specific type of treatment, supply, or equipment based on personal preference which the department or MCO does not pay for and the specific type is not medically necessary for the client.

     WAC 388-502-0160 (6)(g), the department added a subsection (2) in the cross-reference to be more definitive:

     (g) The services were noncovered ambulance services (see WAC 388-546-0250(2));

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Gail Kreiger, Chief, Division of Healthcare Services, P.O. Box 45560, Olympia, WA 98504-5560, phone (360) 725-1681, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail Gail.Kreiger@dshs.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: April 26, 2010.

Susan N. Dreyfus

Secretary

4163.7
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-12-070, filed 5/31/02, effective 7/1/02)

WAC 388-502-0160   Billing a client.   (1) ((A provider may not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from a client or anyone on the client's behalf for a covered service. The client is not responsible to pay for a covered service even if MAA does not pay the provider because the provider failed to satisfy the conditions of payment in MAA billing instructions, this chapter, and other chapters regulating the specific type of service provided.

     (2) The provider is responsible for verifying whether the client has medical coverage for the date of service and to check the limitations of the client's medical program.

     (3) A provider may bill a client only if one of the following situations apply:

     (a) The client is enrolled in medical assistance managed care and the client and provider comply with the requirements in WAC 388-538-095;

     (b) The client is not enrolled in medical assistance managed care, and the client and provider sign an agreement regarding payment for the service. The agreement must be translated or interpreted into the client's primary language and signed before the service is rendered. The provider must give the client a copy and maintain the original in the client's file for department review upon request. The agreement must include each of the following elements to be valid:

     (i) A statement listing the specific service to be provided;

     (ii) A statement that the service is not covered by MAA;

     (iii) A statement that the client chooses to receive and pay for the specific service; and

     (iv) The client is not obligated to pay for the service if it is later found that the service was covered by MAA at the time it was provided, even if MAA did not pay the provider for the service because the provider did not satisfy MAA's billing requirements.

     (c) The client or the client's legal guardian was reimbursed for the service directly by a third party (see WAC 388-501-0200);

     (d) The client refuses to complete and sign insurance forms, billing documents, or other forms necessary for the provider to bill insurance for the service. This provision does not apply to coverage provided by MAA;

     (e) The provider has documentation that the client represented himself/herself as a private pay client and not receiving medical assistance when the client was already eligible for and receiving benefits under a MAA medical program. This documentation must be signed and dated by the client or the client's representative. The provider must give a copy to the client and maintain the original documentation in the client's file for department review upon request. In this case, the provider may bill the client without fulfilling the requirements in subsection (3)(b) of this section regarding the agreement to pay. However, if the patient later becomes eligible for MAA coverage of a provided service, the provider must comply with subsection (4) of this section for that service;

     (f) The bill counts toward a spenddown liability, emergency medical expense requirement, deductible, or copayment required by MAA; or

     (g) The client received medical services in a hospital emergency room for a condition that was not an emergency medical condition. In such cases, a three-dollar copayment may be imposed on the client by the hospital, except when:

     (i) Reasonable alternative access to care was not available;

     (ii) The "indigent person" criteria in WAC 246-453-040(1) applies;

     (iii) The client was eighteen years of age or younger;

     (iv) The client was pregnant or within sixty days postpregnancy;

     (v) The client is an American Indian or Alaska Native;

     (vi) The client was enrolled in a MAA managed care plan, including primary care case management (PCCM);

     (vii) The client was in an institution such as a nursing facility or residing in an alternative living facility such as an adult family home, assisted living facility, or boarding home; or

     (viii) The client receives waivered services such as community options program entry system (COPES) and community alternatives program (CAP).

     (4) If a client becomes eligible for a covered service that has already been provided because the client:

     (a) Applied to the department for medical services later in the same month the service was provided (and is made eligible from the first day of the month), the provider must:

     (i) Not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from the client or anyone on the client's behalf for the service; and

     (ii) Promptly refund the total payment received from the client or anyone on the client's behalf, and then bill MAA for the service;

     (b) Receives a delayed certification as defined in WAC 388-500-0005, the provider must:

     (i) Not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from the client or anyone on the client's behalf for the service; and

     (ii) Promptly refund the total payment received from the client or anyone on the client's behalf, and then bill MAA for the service; or

     (c) Receives a retroactive certification as defined in WAC 388-500-0005, the provider:

     (i) Must not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from the client or anyone on the client's behalf for any unpaid charges for the service; and

     (ii) May refund any payment received from the client or anyone on the client's behalf, and after refunding the payment, the provider may bill MAA for the service.

     (5) Hospitals may not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from a medically indigent, GA-U, or ADATSA client, or anyone on the client's behalf, for inpatient or outpatient hospital services during a period of eligibility, except for spenddown and under the circumstance described in subsection (3)(g) of this section.

     (6) A provider may not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment from a client, anyone on the client's behalf, or MAA for copying or otherwise transferring health care information, as that term is defined in chapter 70.02 RCW, to another health care provider. This includes, but is not limited to:

     (a) Medical charts;

     (b) Radiological or imaging films; and

     (c) Laboratory or other diagnostic test results)) The purpose of this section is to specify the limited circumstances in which:

     (a) Fee-for-service or managed care clients can choose to self-pay for medical assistance services; and

     (b) Providers (as defined in WAC 388-500-0005) have the authority to bill fee-for-service or managed care clients for medical assistance services furnished to those clients.

     (2) The provider is responsible for:

     (a) Verifying whether the client is eligible to receive medical assistance services on the date the services are provided;

     (b) Verifying whether the client is enrolled with a department-contracted managed care organization (MCO);

     (c) Knowing the limitations of the services within the scope of the eligible client's medical program (see WAC 388-501-0050 (4)(a) and 388-501-0065);

     (d) Informing the client of those limitations;

     (e) Exhausting all applicable department or department-contracted MCO processes necessary to obtain authorization for requested service(s);

     (f) Ensuring that translation or interpretation is provided to clients with limited English proficiency (LEP) who agree to be billed for services in accordance with this section; and

     (g) Retaining all documentation which demonstrates compliance with this section.

     (3) Unless otherwise specified in this section, providers must accept as payment in full the amount paid by the department or department-contracted MCO for medical assistance services furnished to clients. See 42 CFR § 447.15.

     (4) A provider must not bill a client, or anyone on the client's behalf, for any services until the provider has completed all requirements of this section, including the conditions of payment described in department's rules, the department's fee-for-service billing instructions, and the requirements for billing the department-contracted MCO in which the client is enrolled, and until the provider has then fully informed the client of his or her covered options. A provider must not bill a client for:

     (a) Any services for which the provider failed to satisfy the conditions of payment described in department's rules, the department's fee-for-service billing instructions, and the requirements for billing the department-contracted MCO in which the client is enrolled.

     (b) A covered service even if the provider has not received payment from the department or the client's MCO.

     (c) A covered service when the department denies an authorization request for the service because the required information was not received from the provider or the prescriber under WAC 388-501-0165 (7)(c)(i).

     (5) If the requirements of this section are satisfied, then a provider may bill a fee-for-service or a managed care client for a covered service, defined in WAC 388-501-0050(9), or a noncovered service, defined in WAC 388-501-0050(10) and 388-501-0070. The client and provider must sign and date the DSHS form 13-879, Agreement to Pay for Healthcare Services, before the service is furnished. DSHS form 13-879, including translated versions, is available to download at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/forms/eforms.html. The requirements for this subsection are as follows:

     (a) The agreement must:

     (i) Indicate the anticipated date the service will be provided, which must be no later than ninety calendar days from the date of the signed agreement;

     (ii) List each of the services that will be furnished;

     (iii) List treatment alternatives that may have been covered by the department or department-contracted MCO;

     (iv) Specify the total amount the client must pay for the service;

     (v) Specify what items or services are included in this amount (such as pre-operative care and postoperative care). See WAC 388-501-0070(3) for payment of ancillary services for a noncovered service;

     (vi) Indicate that the client has been fully informed of all available medically appropriate treatment, including services that may be paid for by the department or department-contracted MCO, and that he or she chooses to get the specified service(s);

     (vii) Specify that the client may request an exception to rule (ETR) in accordance with WAC 388-526-2610 when the department denies a request for a noncovered service and that the client may choose not to do so;

     (viii) Specify that the client may request an administrative hearing in accordance with WAC 388-526-2610 to appeal the department's denial of a request for prior authorization of a covered service and that the client may choose not to do so;

     (ix) Be completed only after the provider and the client have exhausted all applicable department or department-contracted MCO processes necessary to obtain authorization of the requested service, except that the client may choose not to request an ETR or an administrative hearing regarding department denials of authorization for requested service(s); and

     (ix) Specify which reason in subsection (b) below applies.

     (b) The provider must select on the agreement form one of the following reasons (as applicable) why the client is agreeing to be billed for the service(s). The service(s) is:

     (i) Not covered by the department or the client's department-contracted MCO and the ETR process as described in WAC 388-501-0160 has been exhausted and the service(s) is denied;

     (ii) Not covered by the department or the client's department-contracted MCO and the client has been informed of his or her right to an ETR and has chosen not to pursue an ETR as described in WAC 388-501-0160;

     (iii) Covered by the department or the client's department-contracted MCO, requires authorization, and the provider completes all the necessary requirements; however the department denied the service as not medically necessary (this includes services denied as a limitation extension under WAC 388-501-0169); or

     (iv) Covered by the department or the client's department-contracted MCO and does not require authorization, but the client has requested a specific type of treatment, supply, or equipment based on personal preference which the department or MCO does not pay for and the specific type is not medically necessary for the client.

     (c) For clients with limited English proficiency, the agreement must be the version translated in the client's primary language and interpreted if necessary. If the agreement is translated, the interpreter must also sign it;

     (d) The provider must give the client a copy of the agreement and maintain the original and all documentation which supports compliance with this section in the client's file for six years from the date of service. The agreement must be made available to the department for review upon request; and

     (e) If the service is not provided within ninety calendar days of the signed agreement, a new agreement must be completed by the provider and signed by both the provider and the client.

     (6) There are limited circumstances in which a provider may bill a client without executing DSHS form 13-879, Agreement to Pay for Healthcare Services, as specified in subsection (5) of this section. The following are those circumstances:

     (a) The client, the client's legal guardian, or the client's legal representative:

     (i) Was reimbursed for the service directly by a third party (see WAC 388-501-0200); or

     (ii) Refused to complete and sign insurance forms, billing documents, or other forms necessary for the provider to bill the third party insurance carrier for the service.

     (b) The client represented himself/herself as a private pay client and not receiving medical assistance when the client was already eligible for and receiving benefits under a medical assistance program. In this circumstance, the provider must:

     (i) Keep documentation of the client's declaration of medical coverage. The client's declaration must be signed and dated by the client, the client's legal guardian, or the client's legal representative; and

     (ii) Give a copy of the document to the client and maintain the original for six years from the date of service, for department review upon request.

     (c) The bill counts toward the financial obligation of the client or applicant (such as spenddown liability, client participation as described in WAC 388-513-1380, emergency medical expense requirement, deductible, or copayment required by the department). See subsection (7) of this section for billing a medically needy client for spenddown liability;

     (d) The client is under the department's or a department-contracted MCO's patient review and coordination (PRC) program (WAC 388-501-0135) and receives nonemergency services from providers or healthcare facilities other than those to whom the client is assigned or referred under the PRC program;

     (e) The client is a dual-eligible client with medicare Part D coverage or similar creditable prescription drug coverage and the conditions of WAC 388-530-7700 (2)(a)(iii) are met;

     (f) The services provided to a TAKE CHARGE or family planning only client are not within the scope of the client's benefit package;

     (g) The services were noncovered ambulance services (see WAC 388-546-0250(2));

     (h) A fee-for-service client chooses to receive nonemergency services from a provider who is not contracted with the department after being informed by the provider that he or she is not contracted with the department and that the services offered will not be paid by the client's healthcare program; and

     (i) A department-contracted MCO enrollee chooses to receive nonemergency services from providers outside of the MCO's network without authorization from the MCO, i.e., a nonparticipating provider.

     (7) Under chapter 388-519 WAC, an individual who has applied for medical assistance is required to spend down excess income on healthcare expenses to become eligible for coverage under the medically needy program. An individual must incur healthcare expenses greater than or equal to the amount that he or she must spend down. The provider is prohibited from billing the individual for any amount in excess of the spenddown liability assigned to the bill.

     (8) There are situations in which a provider must refund the full amount of a payment previously received from or on behalf of an individual and then bill the department for the covered service that had been furnished. In these situations, the individual becomes eligible for a covered service that had already been furnished. Providers must then accept as payment in full the amount paid by the department or managed care organization for medical assistance services furnished to clients. These situations are as follows:

     (a) The individual was not receiving medical assistance on the day the service was furnished. The individual applies for medical assistance later in the same month in which the service was provided and the department makes the individual eligible for medical assistance from the first day of that month;

     (b) The client receives a delayed certification for medical assistance as defined in WAC 388-500-0005; or

     (c) The client receives a certification for medical assistance for a retroactive period according to 42 CFR § 435.914(a) and defined in WAC 388-500-0005.

     (9) Regardless of any written, signed agreement to pay, a provider may not bill, demand, collect, or accept payment or a deposit from a client, anyone on the client's behalf, or the department for:

     (a) Copying, printing, or otherwise transferring healthcare information, as the term healthcare information is defined in chapter 70.02 RCW, to another healthcare provider. This includes, but is not limited to:

     (i) Medical/dental charts;

     (ii) Radiological or imaging films; and

     (iii) Laboratory or other diagnostic test results.

     (b) Missed, cancelled, or late appointments;

     (c) Shipping and/or postage charges;

     (d) "Boutique," "concierge," or enhanced service packages (e.g., newsletters, 24/7 access to provider, health seminars) as a condition for access to care; or

     (e) The price differential between an authorized service or item and an "upgraded" service or item (e.g., a wheelchair with more features; brand name versus generic drugs).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.055, 2001 c 7, Part II. 02-12-070, § 388-502-0160, filed 5/31/02, effective 7/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 01-21-023, § 388-502-0160, filed 10/8/01, effective 11/8/01; 01-05-100, § 388-502-0160, filed 2/20/01, effective 3/23/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.09.520. 00-14-069, § 388-502-0160, filed 7/5/00, effective 8/5/00.]

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

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