Significant decisions

What is a significant decision?

A significant decision is a Health Care Authority (HCA) Board of Appeals (BOA) final order* that has an analysis or decision of substantial importance to HCA in carrying out its duties. A significant decision is precedential, which means that future parties, administrative law judges, and review judges may rely on it in similar cases.

Read more about the HCA Index of Significant Decisions.

Requesting a copy of the index

An individual may request a copy of the Index or inspect it by contacting the HCA BOA at:

Mailing address

Health Care Authority Board of Appeals
P.O. Box 42700
Olympia, WA 98504-2700
Phone: 360-725-0910 or 844-728-5212
Fax: 360-507-9018

Physical address

Health Care Authority Board of Appeals
Cherry Street Plaza, First floor reception desk
626 8th Ave SE
Olympia, WA 98501

*An order that is the final HCA decision after an administrative hearing.

Nominating a final order

An individual may nominate a final order for publishing on the HCA Index of Significant Decisions. Download the "Nomination to publish final order" form and send—along with a copy of the nominated final order—to:

Health Care Authority Board of Appeals
P.O. Box 42700
Olympia, WA 98504-2700

Index of Significant Decisions

The HCA's BOA maintains this index. The headnotes for the final orders below, which are available for public inspection, identify the conclusions of law that are precedential and may be relied on by the agency, other parties, and other agencies in future cases under RCW 34.05.220(3).

  • Docket #: 09-2016-HCA-05234
    Type: Medical Assistance Transfer
    Date: December 19, 2016​
    Headnote: Review judge concludes in Conclusions of Law 4-7 that when there is no HCA statute or rule, the next best legal authority with standards for reviewing stay requests are found in the Rules of Appellant Procedure.
  • Docket #: 07-2016-HCA-04204 and 11-2016-HCA-06721
    Type: Medical, Dental, Transportation and Equipment
    Date: June 7, 2017
    Headnote: Review judge concludes in Conclusions of Law 4-15 the legal basis for interlocutory review and the substantive legal standard to be applied when considering whether the review judge should grant review.
  • Docket #: 11-2016-HCA-06661
    Type: Medical Assistance Eligibility
    Date: March 3, 2017
    Headnote: Review judge concludes that current statutes and regulations do not prevent the HCA Board of Appeals from issuing a corrected final order for clerical-type errors.
  • Docket #: 12-2014-HCA-05321
    Type: Chore/COPES/Medicaid Personal Care
    Date: August 5, 2015
    Headnote: Review Judge established in Conclusions of Law 8-12 that administrative tribunals handling HCA Medicaid cases have authority to apply the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel for the specific reason to dismiss an adjudicative proceeding when the matter has already been litigated.

  • Docket #: 2019-11-0498S​
    Type: SEBB
    Date: January 24, 2020
    Headnote: Chief Review Judge concludes in Conclusions of Law 5.12-23 that SEBB Organizations have the discretion to make the determination of the Appellant’s anticipated work hours over the upcoming school year through WAC 182-31-040. No SEBB regulations would conclude a different outcome.

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