WSR 98-01-117

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE

[Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 97-8--Filed December 18, 1997, 11:45 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 284-53-010 Standards for coverage of chemical dependency.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060, 48.44.050, and 48.46.200.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule was among those identified in the regulatory review process by the Insurance Commissioner as a rule that needed to be updated. The rule was adopted over a decade ago and has never been amended. Benefit provisions and references to WAC and RCW sections are among the provisions that may be outdated. Additionally, the regulatory scheme that is currently being utilized will be examined to determine if the considerable advances and changes that have occurred in the field of treatment of chemical dependency would be better served by an alternative method of regulation.

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

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study; and written comments are solicited. Please send comments to Kacy Brandeberry, P.O. Box 40256, Olympia, WA 98504-0256, FAX (360) 407-0351, Internet KacyB@oic.wa.gov. Please send comments by February 13, 1998.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kacy Brandeberry, P.O. Box 40256, Olympia, WA 98504-0256, phone (360) 407-0729, FAX (360) 407-0351, Internet KacyB@oic.wa.gov.

December 18, 1997

Greg J. Scully