Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 388-533 WAC, Maternity-related services. The department is adding a new section to this chapter in order to add coverage of smoking cessation treatment(s) for Medicaid pregnant women.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.760, 74.09.770.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department recognizes that smoking during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes. Since smoking cessation is one of the most important actions a woman can take to improve the outcome of her pregnancy, the department is adding coverage for smoking cessation intervention(s) for Medicaid pregnant women to its maternity-related services.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department is consulting with the Department of Health in the development of these rules.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this WAC. Draft material and information about how to participate are available by contacting the DSHS representative identified 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, Medical Assistance Administration, Regulatory Improvement, P.O. Box 45533, Mailstop 45533, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 725-1345, fax (360) 586-9727, e-mail myersea@dshs.wa.gov.

Susan Bush, Manager

Board of Appeals

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