Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-08-063.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending WAC 388-418-0011 What is a mid-certification review, and do I have to complete one in order to keep receiving benefits?

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html), on March 12, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than March 12, 2013.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. March 12, 2013.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by February 19, 2013, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The community services division is proposing to amend WAC 388-418-0011 to remove references to medical assistance programs. Health care authority (HCA) is proposing to eliminate mid-certification review requirements for medical programs effective June 1, 2013.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This amendment is necessary to comply with 2E2SHB 1738, Laws of 2011, which designated HCA as the single state agency responsible for the administration and supervision of Washington's medicaid program.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Leslie Kozak, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4589.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to ... rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents."

February 4, 2013

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     (2) If you receive cash assistance((, family-related medical,)) or Basic Food benefits, you must complete a mid-certification review unless you meet one of the exceptions below:

     (a) You do not have to complete a mid-certification review for cash assistance if you:

     (i) Only receive Refugee Cash Assistance as described under WAC 388-400-0030; or

     (ii) Have a review period of six months or less.

     (b) You do not have to complete a mid-certification review for Basic food if:

     (i) Your assistance unit has a certification period of six months or less; or

     (ii) All adults in your assistance unit are elderly or disabled and have no earned income.

     (3) When we send the review form:

If you must complete a MCR ...	We send your review form ...
(a) For one program such as Basic Food ((or Family Medical)).	In the fifth month of your certification or review period. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six.
(b) For two or more programs, and all programs have a 12-month certification or review period.	In the fifth month of your certification or review period. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six.
(c) For Basic Food and another program when either program has a certification or review period between six and twelve months.	In the fifth month of your Basic Food certification period when you receive Basic Food and another program. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six of your Basic Food certification.

     (4) If you must complete a mid-certification review, we send you the review form with questions about your current circumstances. You can choose to complete the review in one of the following ways:

     (a) Complete the form and return it to us. For us to count your mid-certification review as complete, you must take all of the steps below:

     (i) Complete the review form, telling us about changes in your circumstances we ask about;

     (ii) Sign and date the form;

     (iii) Give us proof of any changes you report. If you report a change that will increase your benefits without giving proof of this change, we will not increase your benefits;

     (iv) ((If you receive family medical benefits, give us proof of your income even if it has not changed;

     (v))) If you receive temporary assistance for needy families and you are working or self-employed, you must give us proof of your income even if it has not changed; and

     (((vi))) (v) Mail or turn in the completed form and any required proof to us by the due date on the review.

     (b) Complete the mid-certification review over the phone. For us to count your mid-certification review as complete, you must take all of the steps below:

     (i) Contact us at the phone number on the review form, telling us about changes in your circumstances we ask about;

     (ii) Give us proof of any changes you report. We may be able to verify some information over the phone. If you report a change that will increase your benefits without giving proof of this change, we will not increase your benefits;

     (iii) ((If you receive family medical benefits, give us proof of your income even if it has not changed;

     (iv))) If you receive temporary assistance for needy families and you are working or self-employed, you must give us proof of your income even if it has not changed; and

     (((v))) (iv) Mail or turn in any required proof to us by the due date on the review.

     (c) Complete the application process for another program. If we approve an application for another program in the month you must complete your mid-certification review, we use the application to complete your review when the same person is head of household for the application and the mid-certification review.

     (5) If your benefits change because of what we learned in your mid-certification review, the change takes effect the next month even if this does not give you ten days notice before we change your benefits.

     (6) If you do not complete your required mid-certification review, we stop your benefits at the end of the month the review was due.

     (7) Late reviews. If you complete the mid-certification review after the last day of the month the review was due, we process the review as described below based on when we receive the review:

     (a) Mid-certification reviews you complete by the last day of the month after the month the review was due: We determine your eligibility for ongoing benefits. If you are eligible, we reinstate your benefits based on the information in the review.

     (b) Mid-certification reviews you complete after the last day of the month after the month the review was due: We treat this review as a request to send you an application. For us to determine if you are eligible for benefits, you must complete the application process as described in chapter 388-406 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090 and Public Law 109-171, TANF Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register - Volume 71, No. 125 on June 29, 2006. 08-02-053, § 388-418-0011, filed 12/28/07, effective 2/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 06-24-025 and 07-01-023, § 388-418-0011, filed 11/29/06 and 12/8/06, effective 10/1/07; 06-13-043, § 388-418-0011, filed 6/15/06, effective 7/17/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 05-09-020, § 388-418-0011, filed 4/12/05, effective 6/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 2004 c 54. 04-19-134, § 388-418-0011, filed 9/21/04, effective 10/1/04.]