Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering amending chapter 388-76 WAC, Adult family home minimum licensing requirements, to address a process gap that occurs when residents transfer or discharge from adult family homes and prescription medications for those residents continue to be filled by pharmacies. These filled prescriptions may not be returned to the pharmacy and are subject to diversion and misuse by others. The department may amend other related rules as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.128.040 Adoption of rules and standards—Negotiated rule making—Specialty license.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These changes will give adult family home providers clear requirements to address the transition or disposal of resident medications when residents transfer or discharge from the adult family home. It will also help prevent disruption or delay of resident medications when they transition to a new location.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agencies regulate this subject.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Coleen Jensen, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 564-999-3182, fax 360-438-7903, email colleen.jensen1@dshs.wa.gov.