Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is amending this section to align with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Sec. 208) which restored eligibility for medicaid benefits for individuals from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

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

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 Michael Williams, Rulemaking Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1346, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication[s] relay service (TRS) 711, email michael.williams@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Ariel Pyrtek, P.O. Box 33022, Olympia, WA 98504-3022, phone 360-725-1919, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email ariel.pyrtek@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.