Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is adding and amending sections within chapter 388-106 WAC, Long-term care services.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making clarifies the intent of policies from the recent adoption of new chapter 388-106 WAC and amends and adds new rules to the following sections within chapter 388-106 WAC, Scope and definitions, long-term care services provided by the department; applying for services; comprehensive assessment reporting evaluation (CARE) assessment; CARE classification; Medicaid personal care; COPES; medically needy residential waiver; medically needy in-home waiver; and MPC services for children.

     Other policy changes that arise during this rule making may be incorporated, and other WAC chapters may need to be updated as a result of this rule making.

     Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing these rules. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below. At a later date, DSHS will file the proposed rules with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making and send the proposal to everyone currently on the mailing list and anyone else who requests a copy.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kristi Knudsen, P.O. Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 725-3213, fax (360) 438-8633, TTY (360) 493-2637, e-mail knudskl@dshs.wa.gov.

February 13, 2006

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit