Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapters 182-538, 182-538A, 182-538B, 182-538C, 182-538D WAC; and other related rules as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160; E2SSB 5432, 66th legislature, 2019 regular session; 2SSB 6312, 63rd legislature, 2104 [2014] regular session.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making is required to implement E2SSB 5432 which directs the agency to fully implement behavioral health integration for January 1, 2020, by: (1) Removing behavioral health organizations from law; (2) clarifying the roles and responsibilities among the health care authority, the department of social and health services, and the department of health; and (3) clarifying the roles and responsibilities of behavioral health administrative services organizations and the medicaid managed care organizations; and (4) making technical corrections related to the behavioral health system.

This rule making is also needed to implement 2SSB 6312 concerning state purchasing of mental health and chemical dependency treatment services and the full integration of medical and behavioral health services by January 1, 2020.

During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington state department of health, Washington state 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 Amy Emerson, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1348, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay services 711, email amy.emerson@hca.wa.gov, web site www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.