WSR 26-15-065
PROPOSED RULES
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed July 14, 2026, 2:49 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-14-114.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Chapter 182-565 WAC, Health-related social needs, Subchapter V - Nutrition supports, caregiver respite services, and home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices.
Hearing Location(s): On August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The health care authority (HCA) holds public hearings virtually without a physical meeting place. Virtual public hearings are held via Microsoft Teams webinar. To attend, you must register in advance at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/27ed979a-4c6f-43e9-939b-c2369338eb7a@11d0e217-264e-400a-8ba0-57dcc127d72d. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the public hearing. You will be able to join the public hearing through most standard internet browsers; you do not need to install Microsoft Teams.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than August 26, 2026.
Submit Written Comments to: HCA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, email arc@hca.wa.gov, fax 360-586-9727, beginning July 15, 2026, 8:00 a.m., by August 25, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jessica Nguyen, phone 360-725-1174, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay service 711, email arc@hca.wa.gov, by August 7, 2026.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: HCA is developing rules for the health-related social needs (HRSN) program. HCA has coordinated with the department of social and health services (DSHS) on this subchapter, as DSHS is also developing an HRSN WAC chapter for these services. This program allows qualifying medicaid enrollees to receive evidence-based, nonmedical services to address unmet, adverse social conditions that contribute to poor health. The rules will implement nutritional supports, caregiver respite services, and environmental accessibility, remediation, and adaptation services.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See purpose above.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: HCA, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Melinda Froud, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-1408; Implementation and Enforcement: Cassidy Farrow, P.O. Box 42732, Olympia, WA 98504-2732, 360-725-9548.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. RCW
34.05.328 does not apply to HCA rules unless requested by the joint administrative rules review committee or applied voluntarily.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal from Regulatory Fairness Act requirements:
Is not exempt.
The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. HCA has allocated HRSN funds to DSHS to administer services through its existing partnerships with the area agencies on aging and other DSHS-contracted providers who have experience providing HRSN services. This allows the state to minimize cost impacts on providers. The state also has allocated infrastructure funding to DSHS and its contracted partners to offset any start-up costs associated with administering these HRSN services.
HCA has worked within the limits of the HRSN program and funding to make it the least burdensome to all organizations, including any smaller agencies, that will be providing the HRSN navigation services. HCA concludes that the probable benefits of the proposed rule amendments outweigh the probable cost. The rules do not impose more-than-minor costs on small businesses.
July 14, 2026
Wendy Barcus
Rules Coordinator
RDS-7263.2
SUBCHAPTER V – NUTRITION SUPPORTS, CAREGIVER RESPITE SERVICES, AND HOME ACCESSIBILITY, REMEDIATION, AND ADAPTATION DEVICES
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-565-0500Nutrition supports.
(1) The health-related social needs (HRSN) nutrition supports program assists people who:
(a) Are experiencing chronic conditions as defined in WAC 388-106H-0020;
(b) Post-discharge from a hospital, institutional, or congregate setting who screen positive for food insecurity; or
(c) Report being unable to meet or maintain medically-recommended nutrition goals without assistance.
(2) For eligibility, services, and other provisions of the HRSN nutrition supports program, see chapter 388-106H WAC.
(3) Nutrition support services are subject to available funds.
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-565-0525Caregiver respite services.
(1) Caregiver respite services provide intermittent temporary supervision of a client receiving health-related social needs (HRSN) services on a short-term basis.
(2) Caregiver respite services are available when it is useful and necessary to care for a client in their own home and to prevent caregiver burnout.
(3) For eligibility, services, and other provisions of HRSN caregiver respite, see chapter 388-106H WAC.
(4) Caregiver respite services are subject to available funds.
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-565-0550Home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices.
(1) Home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices furnished through the health-related social needs (HRSN) program provide physical changes to a home that are necessary to:
(a) Ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the client; or
(b) Enable the client to function with greater independence in the home.
(2) For eligibility, services, and other provisions of HRSN home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices, see chapter 388-106H WAC.
(3) Home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices are subject to available funds.
NEW SECTION
WAC 182-565-0575Grievances and appeals.
Grievances and appeals related to home accessibility, remediation, and adaptation devices follow the process described in WAC 182-565-0170.