WSR 22-13-097

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

[Filed June 14, 2022, 12:39 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) intends to amend chapter 388-96 WAC regarding its nursing facility medicaid methodology to implement a low-wage worker wage equity funding and verification and other related rules as may be required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.46.800.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The legislature has directed DSHS to develop and adopt rules with respect to the low-wage worker wage equity funding, per ESSB 5693 204(53).

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Not applicable.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to 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 Elizabeth Pashley, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, phone 360-995-2807, fax 360-725-2641, TTY 1-877-905-0454, email Elizabeth.Pashley@dshs.wa.gov, website https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/management-services-division/office-rates-management.

June 14, 2022

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator