Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (HCA) is revising this section to eliminate the requirement for date and signature from the medicaid client or the client's designee upon delivery of medical equipment and supplies in order to avoid contact between the client and delivery person. HCA currently has emergency rules, filed under WSR 20-23-038, striking this requirement.

However, as the current public health emergency surrounding the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues, HCA is beginning the permanent rule-making process to strike this requirement for a date and signature. Once the public health emergency ends, the agency will conduct rule making to add this requirement back into the rule. During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional related changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, the agency will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Valerie Freudenstein, Rulemaking Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1344, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication[s] relay service 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Erin Mayo, Program Questions, P.O. Box 45506, Olympia, WA 98504-5506, phone 360-725-1729, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email erin.mayo@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.