Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-454-010, 246-454-020, 246-454-090, and 246-454-110, Hospitals—System of accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cost allocation. The department of health (department) is considering amendments to existing rules to implement new requirements in E2SHB 1272. Updates may be needed to ensure that the rules are current and align with best practices. The department will also consider adding a new section to address requirements for clarity and conciseness.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: E2SHB 1272 addresses many health system transparency topics. Specific to this rule making the bill strives to increase transparency in hospital financial data. Rule making is being considered to implement this portion of E2SHB 1272. The bill requires the department to revise the uniform, hospital financial reporting system to further delineate hospital expenses and revenue, and monies received by federal, state, or local government in response to national or state-declared emergencies. Instructions for hospital financial reporting are provided by the department in the Accounting and Reporting Manual for Hospitals, which may need updates to comply with the new requirements.

To update the manual to reflect additional hospital financial reporting requirements required within E2SHB 1272, the processes associated with how the manual is updated and distributed to hospitals is detailed in rule and would need to be updated to current standards. The department is considering the revision of several rule sections to modernize the rules for hospital reporting including repealing sections of rule and amending language to update the requirements in and the distribution of the Accounting and Reporting Manual for Hospitals. The department will also consider adding a new section to address requirements for clarity and conciseness.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Carrie Baranowski, P.O. Box 47853, Olympia, WA 98504-7853, phone 360-236-4210, fax 360-236-2830, TTY 711, email HOS@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties will be notified and kept updated throughout the rule-making process through GovDelivery and already established email lists. Interested parties will be invited to participate in rules workshops, provide comments at the proposal stage, and attend the public hearing. Join the GovDelivery list to get information on participating in the process by subscribing at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.