WSR 15-15-125
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)
[Filed July 16, 2015, 5:20 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering amending the following sections in chapter 388-97 WAC, Nursing homes: WAC 388-97-0001 Definitions, 388-97-1080 Nursing services, 388-97-1660 Staff and equipment, 388-97-4560 Amount of civil fine, 388-97-4600 Civil penalty fund, and other related rules as may be required. The department may also develop new rule sections related to staffing ratio requirements.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 18.51 and 74.42 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is amending these rules to assure compliance with requirements from recently passed legislation SHB 1274 and SB [SSB] 5600.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal - Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to 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 Amy Abbott, Nursing Home Policy Program Manager, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98513, phone (360) 725-2581, fax (360) 438-7903, e-mail beckeame@dshs.wa.gov.
Draft section language will be posted on aging and long-term support administration professional internet web page for review and comment prior to filing the CR-102. Anyone from the public can comment directly to the program manager listed above via phone, e-mail, or fax.
July 16, 2015
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator