(1) For the purpose of reaching an initial determination of sponsorship status, hospitals shall rely upon information provided orally by the responsible party. The hospital may require the responsible party to sign a statement attesting to the accuracy of the information provided to the hospital for purposes of the initial determination of sponsorship status.

(2) Any one of the following documents shall be considered sufficient evidence upon which to base the final determination of charity care sponsorship status, when the income information is annualized as may be appropriate:

(a) A "W-2" withholding statement;

(b) Pay stubs;

(c) An income tax return from the most recently filed calendar year;

(d) Forms approving or denying eligibility for medicaid and/or state-funded medical assistance;

(e) Forms approving or denying unemployment compensation; or

(f) Written statements from employers or welfare agencies.

(3) In the event that the responsible party's identification as an indigent person is obvious to hospital personnel, and the hospital personnel are able to establish the position of the income level within the broad criteria described in WAC 246-453-040 or within income ranges included in the hospital's sliding fee schedule, the hospital is not obligated to establish the exact income level or to request the aforementioned documentation from the responsible party, unless the responsible party requests further review.

(4) In the event that the responsible party is not able to provide any of the documentation described above, the hospital shall rely upon written and signed statements from the responsible party for making a final determination of eligibility for classification as an indigent person.

(5) Information requests, from the hospital to the responsible party, for the verification of income and family size shall be limited to that which is reasonably necessary and readily available to substantiate the responsible party's qualification for charity sponsorship, and may not be used to discourage applications for such sponsorship. Only those facts relevant to eligibility may be verified, and duplicate forms of verification shall not be demanded.