Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-550-3600 Diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment—Hospital transfers, and 182-550-3700 DRG high outliers; and other related rules as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (agency) is amending these rules as the payments for outlier enhancements have exceeded the budget neutral amount calculated during the 2021 hospital rebasing period. An increase in the outlier threshold will allow the state to bring payments more in line with the budget-neutral total calculated in 2021. During this review, the agency may identify additional related changes that improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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 Valerie Freudenstein, Rule-making Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1344, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay services (TRS) 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Abby Cole, Program Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-1835, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email abby.cole@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.