WSR 17-02-087

[Filed January 4, 2017, 11:57 a.m.]

Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 17-0009 Home Care Agency Rates.

Effective Date: Anticipated on or after January 1, 2017.

Description: The health care authority in conjunction with the department of social and health services (DSHS) intends to submit medicaid SPA 17-0009. The purpose of this notice is to advise of potential medicaid rate changes as of January 1, 2017.

This notice is furnished in accordance with federal medicaid law, at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a (a)(13)(A) and 42 C.F.R. Sec. 447.205, and state regulations, at WAC 388-96-718. Under these provisions, DSHS must publish proposed new methodologies for determining the payment rates, and the justification for those new methodologies, when the changes would amount to "material" changes that require DSHS to amend its medicaid state plan under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act.

Beginning on January 1, 2017: The home care agency hourly rate increased to $25.96 per hour, which is an increase of $1.36 per hour. The estimated increase in total annual payments to home care agencies for the above changes in state fiscal year 2017 is $9,800,000.

The individual providers mileage rate will be lowered from $.54 to $.535. This is per the IRS mileage rate.

If you would like more information, the proposed budget can be found at http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/lbns/2016Omni2376-S.SL.pdf.

If you have comments on these changes, please contact Elizabeth Pashley, regulatory advisor, at elizabeth.pashley@dshs.wa.gov with a courtesy copy to Ann Myers, state plan coordinator, at ann.myers@hca.wa.gov. Comments must be submitted by March 1, 2017. Please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment.

The SPA is in the development process. A copy of the SPA will be provided on request as soon as it becomes available. To request a copy of the SPA, you may contact the agency in your county listed in the table below or the person named above.