Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) To become a
health care system authorized to distribute fruit and vegetable vouchers, an
applicant must:
(a) Apply as a health care
system on a form determined by the department;
(b) Complete all required training on fruit
and vegetable voucher requirements offered by the department; and
(c) Receive a contract from the department
signed by both the department and the applicant.
(2) The department is not required to
authorize all applicants. Priority authorization will be given to applicants
that:
(a) Routinely screen patients for food
insecurity;
(b) Have a high
percentage of patients who are medicaid clients;
(c) Are located in a county with a high level
of food insecurity;
(d) Are a
federally qualified health center or tribal health clinic;
(e) Have previously operated fruit and
vegetable voucher programs; or
(f)
Plan to distribute fruit and vegetable vouchers to people who have, or are at
risk of developing, a qualifying health condition.
(3) An authorized health care system must
reapply at the end of the current contract period; however, neither the
department nor the participant has an obligation to renew a contract.
(4) The authorized health care system must,
at a minimum:
(a) Comply with the fruit and
vegetable voucher requirements and the terms of their contract;
(b) Have at least one staff member who has
completed training for fruit and vegetable vouchers;
(c) Accept annual training and other
technical assistance on fruit and vegetable voucher requirements from
department staff;
(d) Be
accountable for the actions of employees and volunteers;
(e) Ensure fruit and vegetable vouchers are
only distributed to eligible participants;
(f) Consistently follow a distribution plan
to assure equitable access to fruit and vegetable vouchers;
(g) Comply with federal and state
nondiscrimination laws;
(h) Comply
with federal laws regarding patient privacy, specifically the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1995 and any regulations enacted to its
provisions ("HIPAA Standards") and Washington state law;
(i) Ensure that participants receive the same
courtesies as other customers;
(j)
Promptly provide the department, upon request, with any information it has
available regarding its participation in offering fruit and vegetable
vouchers;
(k) Allow the department
to share information about the health care system's participation related to
fruit and vegetable vouchers with program partners and in public
reports;
(l) Allow the department
to monitor the health care system for compliance with fruit and vegetable
voucher requirements;
(m) Notify
the department immediately if the health care system's operations cease;
and
(o) Comply with department
instructions and guidance with respect to the program.
(5) Authorized health care systems that do
not comply with requirements in this chapter are subject to termination of
their contract. Such noncompliance includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Violating the provisions of the contract;
or
(b) Distributing fruit and
vegetable vouchers without having a signed contract with the
department.
(6) Prior to
contract termination, the department must consider whether the disqualification
would create undue hardships to participants.
(7) Any trafficking in fruit and vegetable
vouchers in any amount will result in contract termination. Health care systems
should ensure fruit and vegetable vouchers are not trafficked among any of
their organization's participants.
(8) An authorized health care system that has
a terminated contract may reapply for reauthorization.
