Description: The health care authority (HCA) and the department of health (DOH) published notice of their intent to submit medicaid SPA 18-0024 on August 1, 2018, under WSR 18-15-054. This SPA would implement E2SHB 1358 which was signed by the governor on May 10, 2017, and was to be implemented on January 1, 2019.

Because implementation of SPA 18-0024 has been delayed until July 1, 2019, SPA 18-0024 has been renumbered as SPA 19-0007; all other information regarding SPA 18-0024 remains the same. SSB 5591 (2015) allowed emergency medical services providers to develop community assistance referral and education services (CARES) programs. CARES programs are able to hire or contract with health care professionals to provide community outreach and injury prevention services to residents of its jurisdiction to advance population health. E2SHB 1358 directs HCA to adopt standards for reimbursement of covered health care services provided to eligible medicaid clients by specified emergency medical services providers through their CARES programs, when those services are provided to clients whose medical needs do not require ambulance transport to an emergency department. These services are known as "treat and refer" services.

E2SHB 1358 also directs DOH to review the professional certification and training of health professionals participating in a CARES program and coordinate with HCA to link the certification requirements with the treat and refer services. Treat and refer services may be provided by the following emergency medical services providers:


•	Fire departments (including city and town fire departments).
•	Fire protection districts.
•	Regional fire protection service authorities.
•	Emergency medical service providers eligible to levy a tax under state law.
•	Federally recognized Indian tribes.

•

Fire departments (including city and town fire departments).

•

Fire protection districts.

•

Regional fire protection service authorities.

•

Emergency medical service providers eligible to levy a tax under state law.

•

Federally recognized Indian tribes.

A draft of SPA 19-0007 is available for review. HCA and DOH would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy, you may contact the agency in your county listed in the table or the person named below. To submit comments, please contact the person named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).