Subject of Possible Rule Making: Vision services, chapter 388-544 WAC. The Medical Assistance Administration (MAA) plans to update its coverage policy sections, to ensure consistency across MAA's WAC chapters, to clarify existing program policy, and to add coverage for disposable contact lenses. During the course of this review, MAA may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or to update policy.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.09.080, 74.09.510, 74.09.520, and 42 C.F.R., Part 440.

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rules are being reviewed to update policy, to clarify limits on certain services and to add coverage for disposable contact lenses. MAA may identify additional needs during the conduct of the rule review.

     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 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 L. Mike Freeman, Rules Program Manager, Medical Assistance Administration, Olympia, Washington 98504-5533, phone (360) 725-1350, e-mail freemlm@dshs.wa.gov.

February 28, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

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