The agency is revising chapter 182-55 WAC to carry out the requirements of chapter 70, Laws of 2026 (SB 5915).

The agency is amending these rules to comply with CMS-0057-F: Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization. CMS-0057-F updates the turnaround times for standard requests from no later than 15 days to no later than 7 days, and no later than 72 hours for expedited/urgent requests.

Effective October 1, 2026, certain previously eligible legal immigrants will become ineligible for federally-funded medical assistance. Specifically, the definition of qualified noncitizens will apply only to lawful permanent residents, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association migrants. The agency is amending its rules to comply with this change in federal law (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396b(v)).

HCA is amending these rules to clarify required centers of excellence (COE) documentation, clarify and add requirements for applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment plans and assessments, and improve the prior authorization (PA) and recertification process.