Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is amending this rule to remove the website link referencing where qualified medical beneficiary (QMB) resource standards for an individual and a couple are listed. Under recent legislation, ESSB 5693, section 205(26), chapter 297, Laws of 2022, countable resources are no longer required for other eligibility programs. As a result, the health care authority (HCA) removed the QMB resource standards chart from its website. The kidney disease program, however, still requires these resource standards, which can be found on medicare's website. During the course of this review, HCA 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: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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 Valerie Freudenstein, Rule-Making Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1344, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication[s] relay service (TRS) 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Stefanie Slakey, Program Questions, P.O. Box 55644, Olympia, WA 98504-5644, phone 360-725-1243, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email Stefanie.slakey@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.