WSR 13-20-078

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed September 30, 2013, 7:02 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-811 WAC, Chemical dependency professionals and chemical dependency professionals trainees; adding new WAC 246-811-XXX Alternative training; and amending WAC 246-811-048 Supervision requirements and 246-811-049 Approved supervisor requirements. The secretary is considering the development of standards and procedures for alternative training programs for licensure.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.205.100 Educational programs and alternative training—Standards and procedures—Established by rule. RCW 18.205.060(8) Authority of secretary.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: By statute and under the medicaid state plan, chemical dependency professionals (CDP) and chemical dependency professional trainees (CDPT) under the supervision of a CDP are the only credentialed professionals allowed to provide chemical dependency (CD) services to individuals presenting in CD treatment agencies certified by the department of social and health services (DSHS). Since this credential was created, the number of CDPs has remained fairly static. In 2010, DSHS's research and data analysis division estimated that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act would result in an increased need for CD services providers.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: DSHS, division of behavioral health and rehabilitation (DBHR) credentials the treatment agencies rendering most of the CD services across the state.

The department of health has worked in conjunction with DBHR on an interagency workgroup to determine impacts that any rule changes would have on the work done at DBHR.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Betty Moe, Department of Health, Chemical Dependency Professional Program, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, e-mail betty.moe@doh.wa.gov, phone (360) 236-4912, fax (360) 236-2901. Interested members of the public will be notified of and invited to participate in a workshop on the subject matter of this inquiry and also may submit written comments for consideration. Notification will be through the chemical dependency listserv, chemical dependency professional committee meetings, and chemical dependency professional web page postings.

September 27, 2013

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary