WSR 97-02-096
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
[Filed January 2, 1997, 11:03 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Medical aid rules and fee schedule updates to chiropractic service descriptions, fee schedules, payment policies, and related housekeeping changes, chapters 296-20 and 296-23 WAC.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.04.020, 51.04.030, 51.36.080, and 51.36.110.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 51.04.030 mandates the director, in consultation with interested persons, to establish, periodically change, and make available a fee schedule of the maximum charges to be made by any physician, surgeon, chiropractor, hospital or other health care provider. Clarifying and updating rules for payment of chiropractic services will maintain the Department of Labor and Industries' responsibility to purchase chiropractic care in a prudent, cost-effective manner without unduly restricting access to necessary chiropractic services.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Department of Labor and Industries is solely responsible for setting reimbursement rates for health care services provided to covered workers. The Department of Labor and Industries is coordinating with staff from the Health Care Authority and Department of Social and Health Services through meetings and phone calls to promote as much consistency and uniformity as possible in payment policies for chiropractic services, while taking into account the unique requirements and differences between programs. The fee schedule will be designed to be used by the Health Care Authority, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Department of Labor and Industries to the extent possible.
Process for Developing New Rule: This rule change affects chiropractors who provide services for covered workers. The proposed changes will be presented to Washington State Chiropractic Association, the Department of Labor and Industries' Chiropractic Advisory Committee and the RBRVS Technical Advisory Group. It will be published in a letter to interested persons. Anyone who wishes to provide input is encouraged to contact the department through the CR-101 process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Evonne Peryea, Medical Program Specialist, Health Services Analysis, P.O. Box 44322, Olympia, WA 98504-4322, phone (360) 902-6828, FAX (360) 902-4249.
January 2, 1997
Mike Watson
for Mark O. Brown
Director