PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is amending WAC 388-501-0050 Healthcare general coverage, 388-501-0070 Healthcare coverage -- Noncovered services, 388-501-0163 Healthcare coverage -- Process for submitting a valid request for authorization, and 388-501-0169 Healthcare coverage -- Limitation extension.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, 74.09.700.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These revisions are necessary to update the department's policy regarding payment for healthcare services; add diskography and upright magnetic resonance imaging to the list of noncovered services; add a new section WAC 388-501-0163 to clarify the process for submitting a valid request for authorization; and to clarify limitation extensions. During the course of this review, the department may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone 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 Wendy L. Boedigheimer, Rules Program Manager, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, phone (360) 725-1306, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY (800) 848-5429, e-mail boediwl@dshs.wa.gov.
February 12, 2009
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator