PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Standards for safeguarding customer information.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) requires state insurance regulators to implement standards for the safeguarding of customer financial information. In addition, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires that health plans implement security standards to safeguard customer health information. These rules will establish standards that insurance companies and health carriers must implement to safeguard customer financial and health information.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services rules will be reviewed and compared with any proposed rules so that they are not in conflict.
Process for Developing New Rule: Submit written comments by June 26, 2008, to Kacy Scott, P.O. Box 40255, Olympia, WA 98504-0255, fax (360) 586-3109, e-mail KacyS@oic.wa.gov.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kacy Scott, P.O. Box 40255, Olympia, WA 98504-0255, fax (360) 586-3109, e-mail KacyS@oic.wa.gov.
May 7, 2008
Mike Kreidler
Insurance Commissioner