WSR 97-24-025

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Medical Assistance Administration)

[Filed November 24, 1997, 4:07 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Procedure for the department to follow in notifying stakeholders of changes in rate-setting methods for hospital services.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050; Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Public Law 105-33.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Boren Amendment has been repealed. Congress wants states to have more flexibility in setting rates for hospitals, nursing facilities and ICFs/MR. In exchange for that flexibility, states are mandated to establish a public notice process that gives stakeholders an opportunity to review and comment on changes in payment methods that a state proposes.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Internal coordination with other agencies within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has been done through meetings and the agencies' assistant attorneys general. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) will be notified through submission of a state plan amendment prior to December 31, 1997.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this WAC. Draft material and information about how to participate are available by contacting the Department of Social and Health Services representative identified below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Leslie Baldwin, Program Assistance and Support Services, Medical Assistance Administration, Olympia, Washington 98504-5530, phone (360) 664-2320, FAX (360) 753-7315, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail baldwll@dshs.wa.gov.

November 24, 1997

Merry A. Kogut, Manager