Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (agency) is revising this section to: (1) Add psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners as a diagnosing and prescribing provider for ABA; (2) clarify that the providers listed in subsection (4)(a) may require additional center of excellence (COE) training for diagnosing and prescribing ABA for adults age 21 and over; and (3) clarify that providers in subsection (3)(a)(ii), (v), and (vi) do not require COE training for diagnosing/prescribing ABA for children age 20 and younger or adults age 21 and over. During this review, the agency may identify additional related changes that improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of social and health 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 Alyssa Jennings, Program Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1194, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email Alyssa.jennings@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.