PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending WAC 246-924-354 Maintenance and retention of records, to establish standards reflective of today's practice and to ensure consumers appropriate access to these records.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.83.050(5) and 18.83.115.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Standards relating to the content and documentation of psychological services are specified in the current rule. However, the rule may be out-of-date given today's practice standards. In addition, the current rule does not address any actual time parameters for how long records need to be retained. The rule needs to be modified to reflect current practice and to provide retention time frames.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), may have an impact and will be considered in the rule-making process. We will work closely with the Attorney General's Office.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by writing to the Department of Health, Janice K. Boden, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47869, Olympia, WA 98504-7869, janice.boden@doh.wa.gov, phone (360) 236-4912, fax (360) 236-4909.
January 21, 2003
Janice K. Boden
Program Manager