Subject of Possible Rule Making: New rule making under chapter 182-521 WAC to provide for continued medicaid coverage after the public health emergency (PHE) ends; other related rules as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Certain medicaid programs extended coverage to clients during PHE. Rule making is needed to avoid a gap in coverage between the time PHE ends and the time similar coverage is reinstated under medicaid verification procedures that existed before the PHE. During the course of this review, the health care authority 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 department of social and health 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 Melinda Froud, Rulemaking Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1408, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication[s] relay service 711, email melinda.froud@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Mark Westenhaver, Program Questions, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, phone 360-725-1324, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email mark.westenhaver@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.