WSR 20-09-032
PROPOSED RULES
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed April 7, 2020, 10:55 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 19-20-106.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 182-550-8000 Hospital safety net assessment (HSNA) programPurpose, and 182-550-8100 Assessment noticesProcess and timelines.
Hearing Location(s): On May 26, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at the Health Care Authority (HCA), Cherry Street Plaza, Sue Crystal Conference Room 106A, 626 8th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98504. Metered public parking is available street side around building. A map is available at https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/Driving-parking-checkin-instructions.pdf or directions can be obtained by calling 360-725-1000.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than May 27, 2020.
Submit Written Comments to: HCA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, email arc@hca.wa.gov, fax 360-586-9727, by May 26, 2020.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Amber Lougheed, phone 360-725-1349, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay services 711, email amber.lougheed@hca.wa.gov, by May 15, 2020.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The agency is establishing rules for the hospital safety net assessment program. The proposed rules:
Describe the payment due date and the notifications sent out by the agency.
Describe how and when the agency offsets amounts from scheduled payments to a hospital when that hospital has not timely paid its assessment.
Establish a process to appeal the agency's action to offset amounts from scheduled payments.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule making is authorized by RCW 74.60.050.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 74.60.050.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160; chapter 74.60 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: HCA, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Melinda Froud, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-1408; Implementation and Enforcement: Clinton Fridley, P.O. Box 45510, Olympia, WA 98504-5510, 360-725-1577.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to HCA rules unless requested by the joint administrative rules review committee or applied voluntarily.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
April 7, 2020
Wendy Barcus
Rules Coordinator
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-550-8000Hospital safety net assessment (HSNA) programPurpose.
Chapter 74.60 RCW establishes the hospital safety net assessment (HSNA) program. The HSNA program imposes an assessment on certain Washington state hospitals that is used solely to increase funding from all other sources and support additional payments to hospitals for authorized medicaid services. The medicaid agency has authority to issue rules associated with the HSNA program under RCW 41.05.021 (1)(m)(iv) and 74.60.050(1).
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-550-8100Assessment noticesProcess and timelines.
(1) Notification. The medicaid agency sends hospital safety net assessment (HSNA) notices on or about thirty calendar days prior to the end of each quarter as required by RCW 74.60.030 (1)(a).
(2) Payment due date. Each hospital must pay its assessment in full by the due date listed in the HSNA notice.  
(3) First past-due notification. If a hospital does not pay its HSNA assessment in full by the due date, the agency sends the hospital a past-due notice. The past-due notice informs the hospital of the actions the agency may take if the hospital's assessment becomes ninety calendar days past due.
(4) Final past-due notification. If a hospital does not pay its assessment in full within ninety calendar days of its due date stated in the HSNA notice, the agency sends the hospital a final past-due notice.
(a) The final past-due notice informs the hospital of the actions the agency takes, as required by RCW 74.60.050(2), to offset funds from the agency's scheduled payments to the hospital.
(b) The agency does not offset funds from managed care capitation payments, as described in RCW 74.60.130.
(5) Appeal. A hospital may appeal the actions the agency takes to offset funds by following the process outlined in WAC 182-502-0050.