Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit SPA 24-0017 to comply with SHB 2051, which removes the requirement for certain health care services to be payable in addition to the daily reimbursement rate (i.e., administrative day rate) paid to hospitals for patients who are in the hospital and do not meet inpatient criteria.

SPA 25-0017 is expected to decrease annual aggregate expenditures by $1.5 million in state fiscal year 2026 and $3.1 million in state fiscal year 2027.

Proposed Rate	Proposed Methodology	Justification
$0	No reimbursement for ancillary services, other than pharmaceuticals, provided during an administrative day stay.	To comply with Washington state SHB 2051. Washington state administrative days payment policy covers more services than medicare; therefore, the comparison to medicare rates exceeds 100 percent; The reduction in annual expenditures for hospital services is less than the statutory four percent of aggregate fee for service hospital expenditures.

Interested parties may submit comments and concerns about the rates or the effects the changes may have on beneficiary access to care or continued service access. Please submit comments and concerns to the person named below by July 7, 2025. Please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment.

HCA is in the process of developing the SPA. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy of the SPA when it becomes available or submit comments, you may contact the people named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).

Contact Abby Cole, Section Manager, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, TRS 711, email abby.cole@hca.wa.gov.