WSR 98-22-058

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Medical Assistance Administration)

[Filed November 2, 1998, 1:04 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Medical transportation services. Current WAC 388-86-085 and 388-87-035, transportation (other than ambulance) and payment methodology; and WAC 388-86-086 and 388-86-036, ambulance services and payment methodology.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Specific federal or state statute: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.09.500; 42 CFR 431.53, 441.62, and 440.170.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These programs assure that Medicaid and medical assistance clients obtain appropriate and necessary transportation to and from providers of medically necessary services. These rules also regulate payments to providers of transportation services.

The department is rewriting these rules to comply with the Governor's Executive Order 97-02, which requires that all regulations be rewritten for clarity, legal foundation, fairness, with public input, etc.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this WAC. Draft material and information about how to participate are available by contacting the DSHS representative identified below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Allen Richards, Program Assistance and Support Services, Medical Assistance Administration, Olympia, Washington 98504-5530, phone (360) 586-1008, fax (360) 753-7315, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail richaa@dshs.wa.gov.

October 28, 1998

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit