WSR 98-01-189

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Medical Assistance Administration)

[Filed December 23, 1997, 3:58 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 388-86-047 Hospice services, and related sections. The Department of Social and Health Services intends to change the hospice election periods (i.e. when a client can choose hospice coverage) for its medical assistance clients. This change would match the Medicare hospice election periods (changed October 1, 1997). The department is also considering adding a five-day notification period requirement (to medical assistance hospice clients) for operational and administrative purposes. This requirement is currently found in the department's Hospice Billing Instructions (1995 edition).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.09.520 and 74.08.090, 42 CFR 418.22 and .24.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Coordinate with federal law (changed October 1, 1997) regarding Medicare hospice election periods (i.e. when a client can choose hospice overage). Add to state rules the five-day notification requirement.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

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 Allen Richards, Program Assistance and Support Services, Medical Assistance Administration, Olympia, Washington 98504-5530, phone (360) 586-1008, FAX (360) 753-7315, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail richaa@dshs.wa.gov.

December 23, 1997

Edith M. Rice, Chief

for Merry A. Kogut, Manager