Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: 42 C.F.R. Part 447, Subpart C, § 447.253(g); RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (agency) is revising this rule to remove subsection (4)(a) and (b) and revise the language to match 42 C.F.R. Part 447, Subpart C, Payment for Inpatient Hospital and Long-Term Care Facility Services, § 447.253(g) Other requirements. During the course of this review, the agency 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 Center 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 relay services (TRS) 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Abby Cole, Program Questions, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-1835, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email abby.cole@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.