Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-531-2000 Increased payments for physician-related services for qualified trauma cases (amend); possible other sections relating to trauma care fund payments and clarifications of existing provisions.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.500.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule amendment corrects an unnecessarily restrictive element in current WAC that prohibits payments from the department's trauma care fund (TCF) to physicians for services provided to general assistance-unemployable (GA-U) and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA) clients. The legislature did not intend to put this restriction on TCF payments to physicians for services to GA-U and ADATSA clients since no disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funds are used to pay physicians.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this rule. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kathy Sayre, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 45533, Olympia, WA 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1342, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail sayrek@dshs.wa.gov, TTY 1-800-848-5429.

June 20, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

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