EMERGENCY RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Aging and Disability Services Administration)
Purpose: The Division of Developmental Disabilities has received initial approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement four home and community based service (HCBS) waivers, which replaced the community alternatives program (CAP) waiver.
These rules will clarify eligibility, service array, utilization, provider qualifications, client appeal rights and access to services. This filing includes new chapter 388-845 WAC.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 71A.12.030, 71A.12.120.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest; and that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: The initial approval of the HCBS waivers by CMS required the department to implement new rules by April 1, 2004, to protect the health and welfare of eligible clients by ensuring no interruption in services to former participants in the CAP waiver, and to ensure a continuation of federal matching funds under 42 C.F.R. 441, Subpart G -- Home and Community Based Services -- Waiver Requirements. Emergency rules were originally filed as WSR 04-08-020, and were extended as WSR 04-16-019, 04-20-018, 05-04-020, and 05-12-026. The department has filed a notice of intent to adopt permanent rules as WSR 03-20-103. These rules are necessary to extend the emergency rules filed as WSR 05-12-026 while the proposed rules are adopted on a permanent basis. The proposed rule making was filed as WSR 05-17-055 on August 9, 2005, and the hearing is scheduled for October 11, 2005.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 131, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 131, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: September 9, 2005.
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 05-21 issue of the Register.