(1) The medicaid agency requires providers to obtain prior authorization for certain items and services before delivering that item or service to the client, except when the items and services are covered by a third-party payer. The item or service must also be delivered to the client before the provider bills the medicaid agency.

(2) All prior authorization requests must be accompanied by a completed General Information for Authorization form (HCA 13-835), in addition to any program specific medicaid agency forms as required within this chapter. Agency forms are available online at http://hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/mpforms.shtml.

(3) When the medicaid agency receives the initial request for prior authorization, the prescription(s) for those items or services must not be older than three months from the date the agency receives the request.

(4) The medicaid agency requires certain information from providers in order to prior authorize the purchase or rental of equipment. This information includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) The manufacturer's name;

(b) The equipment model; and

(c) A detailed description of the item.

(5) For prior authorization requests, the medicaid agency requires the prescribing provider to furnish client-specific justification for respiratory care. The medicaid agency does not accept general standards of care or industry standards for generalized equipment as justification.

(6) The medicaid agency considers requests for new respiratory care that do not have assigned health care common procedure coding system (HCPCS) codes and are not listed in the agency's published issuances, including medicaid provider guides and provider notices. These items require prior authorization. The provider must furnish all of the following information to the medicaid agency to establish medical necessity:

(a) A detailed description of the item(s) or service(s) to be provided;

(b) The cost or charge for the item(s);

(c) A copy of the manufacturer's invoice, price list or catalog with the product description for the item(s) being provided; and

(d) A detailed explanation of how the requested item(s) differs from an already existing code description.

(7) The medicaid agency does not pay for the purchase, rental, or repair of respiratory care equipment that duplicates equipment the client already owns or rents. If the provider believes the purchase, rental, or repair of respiratory care equipment is not duplicative, the provider must request prior authorization and submit the following to the medicaid agency:

(a) Why the existing equipment no longer meets the client's medical needs; or

(b) Why the existing equipment could not be repaired or modified to meet the client's medical needs; and

(c) Upon request, documentation showing how the client's condition met the criteria for PA or EPA.

(8) A provider may resubmit a request for prior authorization for an item or service that the medicaid agency has denied. The medicaid agency requires the provider to include new documentation that is relevant to the request.