(1) Rules of evidence - Record of the proceeding.

(a) Evidence is admissible if in the judgment of the presiding or reviewing officer it is the kind of evidence on which reasonably prudent persons are accustomed to relying on in conducting their affairs. The presiding and reviewing officer should apply RCW 34.05.452 when ruling on evidentiary issues in the proceeding.

(b) All oral testimony must be recorded manually, electronically, or by another type of recording device. The agency record must consist of the documents regarding the matters that were considered or prepared by the presiding officer, or by the reviewing officer in any review, and the recording of the hearing. These records must be maintained by the commissioner as its official record.

(2) Service. All notices and other pleadings or papers filed with the presiding or reviewing officer must be served on the network pharmacy and the pharmacy benefit manager.

(a) Service is made by one of the following methods:

(i) In person;

(ii) By first-class, registered, or certified mail;

(iii) By fax and same-day mailing of copies;

(iv) By commercial parcel delivery company; or

(v) By electronic delivery as allowed by the presiding officer.

(b) Service by mail is regarded as completed upon deposit in the United States mail properly stamped and addressed.

(c) Service by electronic fax is regarded as completed upon the production by the fax machine of confirmation of transmission.

(d) Service by commercial parcel delivery is regarded as completed upon delivery to the parcel delivery company, properly addressed with charges prepaid.

(e) Service by electronic delivery is regarded as completed on the date that any party electronically sends the information to other parties or electronically notifies other parties that the information is available for them to access.

(f) For matters before the reviewing officer, service to the reviewing officer must be sent to:

Office of the Insurance Commissioner

P.O. Box 40255

Olympia, Washington 98504-0255

(g) Where proof of service is required, the proof of service must include:

(i) An acknowledgment of service;

(ii) A certification, signed by the person who served the document, stating the date of service; that the person served the document upon all or one or more of the parties of record in the proceeding by delivering a copy in person to the recipient; and that the service was accomplished by a method of service as provided in this subsection.

(3) Conversion of a brief adjudicative proceeding to a formal proceeding. The presiding or reviewing officer may at any time, on motion of either party or on the officer's own motion, convert the brief adjudicative proceeding to a formal proceeding. The presiding or reviewing officer may convert the proceeding if the officer finds that:

(a) Use of the brief adjudicative proceeding violates any provision of law;

(b) The protection of the public interest requires the agency to give notice to and an opportunity to participate to persons other than the parties; or

(c) The issues and interests involved warrant the use of procedures governed by RCW 34.05.413 through 34.05.476 or 34.05.479.