(1) The medicaid agency pays hospitals for covered outpatient hospital services provided to eligible clients when the services meet the provisions in WAC 182-550-1700. All professional medical services must be billed according to chapter 182-531 WAC.

(2) To be paid for covered outpatient hospital services, a hospital provider must:

(a) Have a current core provider agreement with the agency;

(b) Bill the agency according to the conditions of payment under WAC 182-502-0100;

(d) Meet program requirements in other applicable WAC and the agency's published issuances.

(3) The agency does not pay separately for any services:

(a) Included in a hospital's room charges;

(b) Included as covered under the agency's definition of room and board (e.g., nursing services). See WAC 182-550-1050; or

(c) Related to an inpatient hospital admission and provided within one calendar day of a client's inpatient admission ((or discharge)).

(4) The agency does not pay:

(a) A hospital for outpatient hospital services when a managed care plan is contracted with the agency to cover these services;

(b) More than the "acquisition cost" ("A.C.") for HCPCS (health care common procedure coding system) codes noted in the outpatient fee schedule; or

(c) For cast room, emergency room, labor room, observation room, treatment room, and other room charges in combination when billing periods for these charges overlap.

(5) The agency uses the outpatient weighted costs-to-charges (OWCC) rate to pay for covered outpatient services provided in a critical access hospital (CAH). See WAC 182-550-2598.

(6) Hospitals must provide documentation as required or requested by the agency.

(7) All hospital providers must present final charges to the agency within 365 days of the "statement covers period from date" shown on the claim. The state of Washington is not liable for payment based on billed charges received beyond 365 days from the "statement covers period from date" shown on the claim.