WSR 17-16-176

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 2, 2017, 11:57 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Public benefit hospital self-insurance programs.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Title 48 RCW as amended by SB 5581.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SB 5581 authorizes public benefit hospital districts to participate in self-insurance risk pools with nonprofit hospitals. SB 5581 also requires the state risk manager to put in place rules governing the creation, management, operation, and dissolution of joint self-insurance programs for public benefit hospital entities.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department of enterprise services (DES) will communicate and coordinate with the office of insurance commissioner, which has an interest in the rules governing joint self-insurance programs, as necessary. DES will also communicate with the state auditor's office, which is responsible for financial and accountability audits of other types of risk pools.

Process for Developing New Rule: DES staff will hold a series of workshops in order to develop a proposed rule with anyone interested. An opportunity will also be provided for anyone to submit written comments on the proposed rules during the public comment period and present oral testimony at the public hearings. The public is encouraged to participate, as described below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jack Zeigler, policy and rules manager, phone (360) 407-9209, email jack.zeigler@des.wa.gov. Anyone interested can participate in the development of the proposed rule before publication. Information about the rule making will be posted on the agency rule-making web site http://www.des.wa.gov/about/LawsRules/Pages/RuleMaking.aspx. In addition, you can identify yourself as an interested party by sending an email to rules@des.wa.gov with your contact information and typing "Interested party – self-insurance rulemaking" in the subject line.

August 2, 2017

Jack Zeigler

Policy and Rules Manager