PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is amending WAC 388-531-2000 Increased payments for physician-related services for qualified trauma cases, 388-546-3000 Transporting qualified trauma cases, and 388-550-5450 Supplemental distributions to approved trauma service centers.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.168.040 and 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule changes will give DSHS greater flexibility in making supplemental trauma payments to providers in order to leverage federal matching funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and maximize trauma care system reimbursement. It will also clarify existing policy.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of health (DOH) and DSHS coordinate administration and funding of the statewide trauma care system, so DOH will be involved in developing the rule through regular ongoing meetings and communications.
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 Kevin Sullivan, HRSA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, phone (360) 725-1344, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, e-mail sullikm@dshs.wa.gov.
November 23, 2009
Stephanie E. Vaughn
Rules Coordinator