WSR 17-07-124

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 22, 2017, 8:47 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 182-513-1330 Determining available income for legally married couples for long-term care (LTC) services and other relevant rules as appropriate.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, and 74.09.565.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The agency is revising this rule to conform with Section 1924 of the Social Security Act, which does not allow medicaid agencies to deem income from an institutional spouse to an institutional spouse when determining eligibility for long-term services and supports. During the course of this review, the agency may identify additional changes that are required in order to improve clarity or update policy.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of social and health services.

Process for Developing New Rule: The agency welcomes the public to take part in developing this rule. If interested, contact the person identified below to receive an early rule draft to review. After the early review, the agency will send a notice of proposed rule making (CR-102) to everyone receiving this notice and anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Melinda Froud, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, fax (360) 586-9727, TTY 1-800-848-5429, email Melinda.Froud@hca.wa.gov.

March 22, 2017

Wendy Barcus

Rules Coordinator