WSR 13-17-107

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 21, 2013, 9:57 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 182-531 WAC, Physician-related services and possibly other related sections as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), 3ESHB 5034 (chapter 4, Laws of 2013), and RCW 41.05.021.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (HCA) must implement federal requirements under the Affordable Care Act and the budget-driven benefit changes under the legislative session of 2013 concerning: Removing mental health visit limits for kids and adults and expanding the list of qualified providers for adults; adding shingles vaccinations; adding preventive medicine evaluation and management services; adding periodic screening for developmental delay and autism for a child suspected of having a condition classified on the autism spectrum disorder; adding "screening, brief intervention, referral and treatment (SBIRT) services for chemical dependency; adding naturopathic physicians as primary care providers; adding suppliers of complex rehabilitation technologies; adding telemedicine as a mode for delivery of care; and adding habilitation services for the newly eligible under medicaid expansion. During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The division of vocational rehabilitation and the division of behavioral health and recovery with the department of social and health services.

Process for Developing New Rule: HCA welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, HCA will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and 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. Barcus (Boedigheimer), P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail wendy.boedigheimer@hca.wa.gov.

August 21, 2013

Kevin M. Sullivan

Rules Coordinator