Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 388-555 WAC, Interpreter services.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 34.05 RCW, 74.08.090, 74.04.025 and SB 6832 (chapter 200, Laws of 2002).

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SB 6832, signed into law on March 27, 2002, gives the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) the authority to purchase interpreter services and interpreter brokerage services. To reduce cost and improve oversight, DSHS will be changing how interpreter services are purchased. The Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) is the lead for DSHS in making these changes.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Center for Medicaid Medicare Services, Office of Civil Rights, and Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Coordination of this rule will be done by MAA and interested parties will be invited to participate in the rule-making process.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The workgroup will produce draft language for the rule and the department will invite the interested public to review and comment on the draft 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 Myra Davis, Medical Assistance Administration, P.O. Box 45533, Olympia, WA 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail daviss@dshs.wa.gov.

May 17, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

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