WSR 15-02-038

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed December 31, 2014, 12:32 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-554-500 Covered enteral nutrition products, equipment and related supplies—Orally administered—Clients twenty years of age and younger only, and other rules as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Placing a restriction on these rules is necessary to protect clients under one year of age who are receiving thickeners. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning not to give babies thickeners, particularly those born prematurely, because there is substantive evidence it puts them at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis. The recommendation is supported by American Academy of Pediatrics.

During the course of this review, the health care authority (HCA) may identify additional changes that are required to improve clarity or update policy.

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 Chantelle Diaz, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone (360) 725-1842, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail chantelle.diaz@hca.wa.gov.

December 31, 2014

Kevin M. Sullivan

Rules Coordinator