WSR 98-06-066

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Aging and Adult Services Administration)

[Filed March 2, 1998, 3:52 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revision of chapter 388-96 WAC, Nursing home accounting and reimbursement system, to make changes to principles of determining Medicaid nursing facility payment rates.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.46.800 and 74.09.120.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: To reflect possible changes made by the 1998 state legislature and to adopt necessary supplementary rules and procedures.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Changes must be submitted to HCFA as state plan amendment, subject to HCFA approval.

Process for Developing New Rule: Changes will be based on 1998 state legislative action and on rules and procedures needed to clarify and complete the Medicaid payment rate system for nursing facilities. The department welcomes and encourages comments and suggestions in developing the proposed rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Send comments and suggestions to Robert Gray, Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Adult Services Administration, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600, (360) 493-2588, FAX (360) 493-9484.

March 2, 1998

Edith M. Rice, Chief