WSR 20-17-133

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

[Filed August 18, 2020, 3:01 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering amending WAC 388-97-1260 Physician services, and other related rules as may be required to identify the period of time that portions of the rule was held in suspension during the declared emergency of COVID-19 per Proclamation by the Governor 20-05.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.42.620.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making is necessary to establish a timeframe when the portions of the rules were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nursing homes were not required to comply with the suspended portions of the rules.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department will use a collaborative rule-making process to develop and receive comments on draft rules. Draft material and information about how to participate in the rule-making process may be obtained from the department representative listed below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lisa Herke, Policy Program Manager, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 509-209-3088, fax 360-725-3224, email lisa.herke@dshs.wa.gov.

August 18, 2020

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator