Subject of Possible Rule Making: Establishing accreditation fees for opioid treatment programs (OTP) in chapter 246-341 WAC. The department of health (department) is considering amending WAC 246-341-0365, or creating a new rule, to implement SB 5988 (chapter 73, Laws of 2026) as it relates to establishing fees to cover the cost associated with the accreditation services the department provides under 42 C.F.R. Part 8.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SB 5988 added a new section to chapter 71.24 RCW to allow the department, as approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as an accrediting body, to establish a fee in rule for OTP accreditation services. SB 5988 requires the department to establish an accreditation fee. Establishing an accreditation fee allows the department to continue providing the valued accreditation services while recognizing the need for funding to support this work.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington state health care authority state opioid treatment authority. The department works closely with state partners regarding OTP regulations and will continue to coordinate with them on the revision of this rule.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Michelle Weatherly, P.O. Box 47843, Olympia, WA 98504-7843, phone 360-236-2992, TTY 711, email michelle.weatherly@doh.wa.gov, website https://doh.wa.gov/.

Additional comments: Interested parties may participate in the development of draft rules prior to a formal proposal by joining the department's interested parties list, attending workshops, and providing input on draft and proposed materials. To find out more information about our rule making and to be included on the interested parties list, please follow these steps: (1) Go to www.doh.wa.gov; (2) click on the "Sign up for Updates from DOH" button on the bottom of the page; (3) enter your contact information; (4) click "Submit"; (5) under the subscription preferences, check both the "Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)" and "Behavioral Health Care Integration" boxes under the "Health Systems Quality Assurance["] and "Facilities Licensing and Certificate of Need" headings, as well as the "Behavioral Health Care Integration" heading; and (6) scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Submit."