Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-531-0050 Physician-related services definitions and new WAC 182-531-2040 Enhanced reimbursement—Medication assisted treatment.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, ESSB 6032 2017-2019 Omnibus operating budget, 2018 supplemental.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington state legislature provided funding to increase the medication assisted therapy rate for opioid use disorder to match the medicare rate in order to encourage more providers to treat patients with opioid use disorder. This represents an exception to current payment methodology and needs to be described in the administrative code. During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order provide clarity.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Health and Human Services, federal Food and Drug Administration, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Washington medicaid rules will comply with national rules.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, the agency will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and 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 Amy Emerson, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1348, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunications relay services (TRS) 711, email amy.emerson@hca.wa.gov, web site www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.