Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency intends to develop rules to align with Sec. 1902 (a)(25)(I) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (CAA, 2022; P.L. 117-103). The rules will bar liable third-party payers from refusing to pay for a service or item furnished to a medicaid-eligible person if the service or item did not receive prior authorization under the third-party payer's rules. 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.

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 360-725-1406, 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 Kasandra Wilson, Program Questions, P.O. Box 45564, Olympia, WA 98504-5564, phone 360-725-1351, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email kasandra.wilson@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.