Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is developing rules to align with the requirements of E2SSB 5377. This bill provides that if a public option plan is not available in each county during plan year 2022 or later, hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW receiving payment from one of the agency's benefit programs or its medical assistance program must contract with at least one public option plan to provide in-network services to that plan's enrollees. The bill also provides that the agency may adopt rules including levying fines and taking other actions necessary to enforce compliance when a hospital must contract with a public option plan. 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 health benefit exchange and the office of the insurance commissioner.

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 (TRS) 711, email melinda.froud@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Penny Adler, Program Questions, P.O. Box 45502, Olympia, WA 98504-5502, phone 360-725-0886, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email penny.adler@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.