WSR 15-04-040

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 27, 2015, 3:55 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-550-4650 "Full cost" public hospital certified public expenditure (CPE) payment program, 182-550-4670 CPE payment program—"Hold harmless" provision, 182-550-5400 Payment method—Public hospital disproportionate share hospital (PHDSH), and other related sections as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.106, 74.09.5225(3).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Revisions to these sections are necessary to align with recent changes to RCW 74.09.5225(3) and to allow certain public hospitals to opt-out of the agency's CPE payment program.

During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Process for Developing New Rule: The health care authority (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 Barcus, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail wendy.barcus@hca.wa.gov.

January 27, 2015

Jason R. P. Crabbe

Rules Coordinator