WSR 15-13-051

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed June 10, 2015, 8:55 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-540-022 Kidney disease program (KDP)—Income eligibility 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: The agency is amending this rule to ensure that clients who receive cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to their Social Security benefits remain eligible for KDP. In some cases, a COLA puts clients slightly above the KDP income limit. This amendment will exempt Social Security benefit COLAs and the first $20 of monthly unearned income from KDP eligibility, consistent with SSI-related medical rules. The agency is also making some housekeeping changes to this rule.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency 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, the agency 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 Melinda Froud, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail Melinda.froud@hca.wa.gov.

June 10, 2015

Wendy Barcus

Rules Coordinator