Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-552-0005 Respiratory care—Definitions, 182-552-0200 Respiratory care—Provider requirements, 182-552-0800 Respiratory care—Covered—Oxygen and oxygen equipment; and other related rules as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is removing the outdated clinical criteria for coverage of oxygen and is also revising other criteria. The clinical criteria in the current rules are more restrictive than medicare's current clinical criteria, which causes providers to request prior authorization more frequently than necessary. Under this rule making, the agency plans to align the rules with medicare's current requirements. During the course of this review, the health care authority 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: Not applicable.

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, Rule-Making 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 Krista McClellan, Program Questions, P.O. Box 45506, Olympia, WA 98504-5506, phone 360-725-1611, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email krista.mcclellan@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.