PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-310 WAC, Certificate of need, forecasting methodology for in-home services agencies licensed to provide hospice and hospice care center services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 70.127 and 70.38 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The existing certificate of need forecasting methodology for in-home services agencies licensed to provide hospice services was developed in the 1987 state health plan. The health care environment has changed significantly since the development of this method. Rule revisions are needed to assure the methodology takes into account these changes and accurately reflects the need for hospice services. Additionally, legislation revising chapter 70.127 RCW was enacted in 2000 defining a new category of in-home services, hospice care centers, and requiring that these centers receive a certificate of need prior to licensure. Rules are also needed to implement this new requirement and to establish fees.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Bart Eggen, Executive Director, Facilities and Services Licensing, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 705-6658, e-mail Bart.Eggen@doh.wa.gov.
June 26, 2002
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary