Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The health care authority (agency) is amending these rules to remove short-term post-hospitalization housing from the medical respite program definition, as this housing is separate from medical respite. Medical respite is short-term recovery/rehabilitation for a client's acute medical condition. The housing applies to other health-related social needs services that only provide room and board such as rent/temporary housing that is included per demonstration period. Additionally, the cap of six months of utilization will be per rolling 12-month period for the medical respite program as this aligns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance. During this review, the agency may identify additional related changes that improve clarity or update policy.

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 360-725-5128, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay services (TRS) 711, email valerie.freudenstein@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking; or Rob McDonough, Program Questions, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, phone 360-725-5135, fax 360-586-9727, TRS 711, email rob.mcdonough@hca.wa.gov, website www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/rulemaking.