PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Repealing WAC 388-548-0500 Mental health center services and new WAC 388-548-0100 Mental health center services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08.520, 71.24.035.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department had intended to repeal WAC 388-86-067 Mental health center services and replace it with a new rule. Due to an oversight, however, WAC 388-86-067 was repealed and the new rule was not adopted. This resulted in the emergency adoption of new WAC 388-548-0500 so that medical assistance clients could continue to receive necessary services. The emergency rule adopted the text of WAC 388-86-067 with no changes. In order to comply with the Governor's Executive Order 97-02 on regulatory reform, the department is proposing to rewrite WAC 388-548-0500 and renumber it as WAC 388-548-0100 to update the language and policy.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of the rule. Draft material and information about how to participate is available from the DSHS representative listed below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ann Myers, Regulatory Improvement Program Manager, Medical Assistance Administration, P.O. Box 45533, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 725-1345, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail myersea@dshs.wa.gov.
May 4, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit