WSR 15-17-003

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

OFFICE OF

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

[Filed August 5, 2015, 3:05 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Implementation of chapter 246, Laws of 2015 (ESSB 5084) – statewide all-payer health care claims database.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Sections 1, 5 and 7, chapter 246, Laws of 2015 (ESSB 5084).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Chapter 43.371 RCW directs the office of financial management (OFM) to establish a statewide all-payer health care claims database to support transparent public reporting of health care information. Chapter 43.371 RCW, as amended by ESSB 5084, sections 1, 5 and 7 provides that the OFM director shall adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter and provides specific areas in which rules should be adopted.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The office of the chief information officer has security and privacy standards that must be met. There are also state and federal laws regarding protection of private data and personal health information, which must be followed in regards to the establishment and operation of the database. Coordination will be accomplished through meetings and other written methods of communication. As agency points of contact become known, we will add them to the stakeholder list to ensure receipt of correspondence of all rule-making activities.

Process for Developing New Rule: Early solicitation of comments and recommendations will be sought, and draft rules will be sent to a list of stakeholders as well as presented for discussion at stakeholder meetings to solicit comments and recommendations prior to publication of the rules for the rule-making hearing. Meetings will be held throughout the process to reach out to stakeholders, educate on the process and receive information regarding questions, concerns, etc.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. To participate in the rule-making process, you may:

•	Read the rule-making background information at http://ofm.wa.gov/healthcare/pricetransparency.
•	Send OFM an e-mail with your name and contact information (and questions or comments) at apcd@ofm.wa.gov.
•	Sign up on the APCD listserv at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?INDEX. You will receive information on the rules, hearing dates and the latest drafts of the rules for your comments.

Roselyn Marcus

Assistant Director

Legal and Legislative Affairs

Rules Coordinator