HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

[Filed August 15, 2025, 8:19 a.m., effective August 15, 2025, 8:19 a.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: The health care authority (agency) is amending these rules to expand screening and preventative services for certain sexually transmitted infections, to include HIV testing, viral hepatitis B and C, and hepatitis A/B combination vaccines, when clinically appropriate or according to nationally recognized guidelines. The agency is also including coverage for family planning-related services and supplies, defined as those services provided as part of, or as follow-up to, a family planning visit.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-532-530, 182-532-550, and 182-532-560.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: These rules are necessary to expand family-planning only (FPO) coverage to support preventative screenings and family planning services while the permanent rule-making process is completed. The FPO program operates under a federal waiver allowing changes in response to state needs.

These changes were preliminarily approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as eligible additions to the state program. The agency began the permanent rule-making process under WSR 23-24-065 and filed subsequent emergency rules while waiting for formal CMS approval. CMS issued formal approval on April 30, 2025, of the FPO waiver application, which included expanded coverage.

The agency then sent out draft copies of the rules for stakeholder review and comment. After further review, agency staff identified some additional sections in chapter 182-532 WAC to be amended. This emergency rule filing is needed to renew the previous emergency rules filed under WSR 25-09-097, while the agency prepares the additional draft rules for stakeholder review.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: August 15, 2025.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-02-025, filed 12/28/21, effective 2/1/22)

WAC 182-532-530Family planning only programs—Covered services.

The medicaid agency covers all of the following services:

(1) One comprehensive preventive family planning visit once every twelve months, based on nationally recognized clinical guidelines. This visit must have a primary focus and diagnosis of family planning and include counseling, education, risk reduction, and initiation or management of contraceptive methods;

(2) Assessment and management of family planning or contraceptive problems, when medically necessary;

(3) Family planning-related services and supplies defined as those services provided as part of, or as follow-up to a family planning visit;

(4) Contraception, including:

(a) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraceptive methods, as described under WAC 182-530-2000;

(b) Education and supplies for Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved contraceptive, natural family planning, and abstinence; and

(((4)))(5) The following services, when clinically appropriate((, during a visit focused on family planning))or according to nationally recognized guidelines:

(a) Pregnancy testing;

(b) Cervical cancer screening((, according to nationally recognized clinical guidelines));

(c) Gonorrhea and chlamydia screening and treatment ((for clients age thirteen through twenty-five, according to nationally recognized clinical guidelines));

(d) Syphilis screening and treatment ((for clients who have an increased risk for syphilis, according to nationally recognized guidelines; and));

(e) Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, testing, and treatment, when medically indicated by symptoms or report of exposure, and medically necessary for the client's safe and effective use of their chosen contraceptive method;

(f) HIV testing, including rapid tests; and

(g) Viral hepatitis B and C testing.

(6) Hepatitis B and hepatitis A/B combination vaccines.

(((5)))(7) Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-18-024, filed 8/28/19, effective 10/1/19)

WAC 182-532-550Family planning only programs—Payment limitations.

(1) The medicaid agency limits payment under the family planning only programs to services that:

(a) Have a primary focus and diagnosis of family planning as determined by a qualified licensed medical practitioner; ((and))

(b) Are medically necessary for the client to safely and effectively use, or continue to use, the client's chosen contraceptive method; and

(2) The agency pays:

(a) Providers for covered family planning services using the agency's published fee schedules;

(b) For family planning pharmacy services, family planning laboratory services, and sterilization services using the agency's published fee schedules; and

(c) A dispensing fee only for contraceptive drugs purchased through the 340B program of the Public Health Service Act. (See chapter 182-530 WAC)

(3) The agency does not pay for inpatient services under the family planning only programs, except for complications arising from covered family planning services.

(4) The agency requires providers to:

(a) Meet the timely billing requirements of WAC 182-502-0150; and

(b) Seek timely reimbursement from a third party when a client has available third-party resources, as described under WAC 182-501-0200. Exceptions to this requirement are described under WAC 182-501-0200 (2) and (3) and 182-532-570.

(5) Services provided to family planning clients by federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health centers (RHCs), and Indian health care providers (IHCP) do not qualify for encounter or enhanced rates.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-18-024, filed 8/28/19, effective 10/1/19)

WAC 182-532-560Family planning only programs—Documentation requirements.

In addition to the requirements in WAC 182-502-0020, providers must document the following in the client's medical record:

(1) Primary focus and diagnosis of the visit is family planning or family planning related;

(2) Contraceptive methods discussed;

(3) Plan for use of a contraceptive method, or the reason and plan for no contraceptive method;

(4) Education, counseling, and risk reduction with sufficient detail that allows for follow-up;

(5) Referrals to, or from, other providers; and

(6) If applicable, a copy of the completed consent form for sterilization. (See WAC 182-531-1550)