Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-531-1600 Bariatric surgery.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Revision to this rule is necessary to add coverage for clients eighteen through twenty years of age for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) when the criteria in WAC 182-531-1600 is met.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The health care authority (HCA) welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, HCA will file a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) with the office of the code reviser. 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, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail wendy.boedigheimer@hca.wa.gov.

March 5, 2013

Kevin M. Sullivan

Rules Coordinator