Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-545-300 Occupational therapy, 388-545-500 Physical therapy, 388-545-700 Speech/audiology services, 388-545-900 Neurodevelopmental centers, and 388-551-2110 Home health services -- Covered specialized therapy.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 43.88.290.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Upon order of the governor, the medicaid purchasing administration (MPA) must reduce its budget expenditures for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, by 6.3 percent. To achieve this expenditure reduction, MPA is changing the benefit limit for adults, twenty-one years of age and older, for outpatient rehabilitation (which includes occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy). The new benefit limits apply to skilled therapy services through a medicare-certified home health agency as well as therapies provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists in outpatient hospital clinics and free-standing therapy clinics.

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

     Process for Developing New Rule: 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 Wendy L. Boedigheimer, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail wendy.boedigheimer@dshs.wa.gov.

April 6, 2011

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office