(1) Requesting an expedited hearing.

(a) An expedited hearing may be requested only in matters involving applicants or recipients.

(b) An applicant or recipient may request an expedited administrative hearing when the applicant or recipient believes there is an urgent health care need as defined in subsection (3) of this section.

(c) The applicant or recipient bears the burden of proof to establish an urgent health care need and must submit evidence or arrange for evidence to be submitted to the office of administrative hearings (OAH) with the expedited hearing request to support the need for an expedited hearing. Agency staff may help an applicant or recipient who asks for assistance in obtaining information that the agency has pursuant to WAC 182-503-0120.

(d) A recipient may be eligible for continued coverage according to WAC 182-504-0130.

(2) Exception to notice requirements. The notice requirements in this section prevail over notice requirements in WAC 182-526-0250.

(3) Standard for granting an expedited hearing request.

(a) For the purposes of this section, an urgent health care need means that waiting for an otherwise timely final order could jeopardize the applicant's or recipient's life, health or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function.

(b) The administrative law judge (ALJ) grants a request for an expedited hearing only if the ALJ finds by a preponderance of the evidence submitted with the applicant's or recipient's expedited hearing request and the information listed below that the applicant or recipient has an urgent health care need.

(c) Information the ALJ may consider when determining whether the applicant or recipient has an urgent health care need and whether to subsequently grant or deny an expedited hearing request includes, but is not limited to:

(i) The documentation submitted with the expedited hearing request to show an urgent health care need;

(ii) Whether the recipient is eligible for continued coverage of the benefits denied, reduced, or terminated by the agency or the agency's designee pending resolution of the appeal as an expedited hearing request may not be granted for individuals receiving continued coverage;

(iii) The length of time between the applicant's or recipient's receipt of the agency's or the agency designee's adverse notice and the applicant's or recipient's request for an expedited hearing; and

(iv) Whether the documentation submitted with the expedited hearing request shows that an appointment with a provider for a health care procedure or treatment to address the applicant's or recipient's stated urgent health care need:

(A) Is scheduled; or

(B) Cannot be scheduled due to a lack of coverage.

(4) Time frame and notice requirements for expedited hearing request determination. The ALJ must grant or deny the expedited hearing request and issue the determination within four business days of receipt of the request by OAH or as expeditiously as possible. OAH must immediately notify the parties orally and in writing of the ALJ's determination, unless the parties waive written notification. The oral and written notice must clearly state:

(a) Whether the expedited hearing request was approved or denied;

(b) That a hearing has been or will be scheduled; and

(c) The information listed in subsection (3)(c) of this section that the ALJ relied upon.

(5) Scheduling an expedited hearing. If the ALJ grants a request for an expedited hearing, OAH will schedule a hearing and provide notice as expeditiously as possible, allowing for a reasonable amount of notice and time for the parties to prepare for hearing. The notice rules in WAC 182-526-0250 do not apply.

(6) Denial of expedited hearing. If the ALJ denies an expedited hearing request, OAH will schedule the hearing based on standard scheduling practices and the notice rules in WAC 182-526-0250.

(7) Appeal right. There is no right to appeal an ALJ's determination to grant or deny an expedited hearing request.

(8) Expedited hearing initial order. If an expedited hearing request is granted and an expedited hearing is held, the ALJ must issue an initial order as expeditiously as possible.

(9) Expedited final order. Any party may request administrative review of the initial order with the health care authority board of appeals according to WAC 182-526-0560 through 182-526-0600. The board of appeals will issue a final order as expeditiously as possible.

(10) Delayed expedited hearing request determination or expedited hearing initial order. The ALJ has a duty to determine whether to grant or deny an expedited hearing request and, if granted, to issue an expedited hearing initial order as expeditiously as possible, except in unusual circumstances when:

(a) An ALJ is unable to reach a decision because the applicant or recipient requests a delay or does not take a required action; or

(b) There is an administrative or other emergency beyond OAH's or the agency's control.