1. (1) To be certified as an IRO under this chapter, an organization must make an application to the commissioner upon a form to be furnished by the commissioner as required under RCW 48.43.537 and submitted using the commissioner's online service. The application must include or be accompanied by the following:

   1. (a) An attestation on the form required by the commissioner, signed by a company officer, certifying that all requirements within RCW 48.43.537 and this chapter will be met;

   2. (b) Evidence of current accreditation from a nationally recognized private accrediting organization acceptable to the federal Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Labor for the federal external review process;

      1. (i) Applicants shall authorize release of information from primary sources, including full reports of site visits, inspections, and audits; and
      2. (ii) The commissioner may require the applicant to indicate which documents demonstrate compliance with specific Washington state certification requirements under this chapter.
   3. (c) Other documentation including, but not limited to, legal and financial information, policies and procedures, and data that are pertinent to requirements of this chapter; and
   4. (d) Any other pertinent information required by the commissioner.

2. (2) Commissioner investigation and verification activities regarding the applicant may include, but are not limited to:

   1. (a) Review of application and filings for completeness and compliance with standards;
   2. (b) Primary-source verification with accreditation or regulatory bodies of compliance with requirements which are used to demonstrate compliance with certain standards in this chapter;
   3. (c) Other means of determining regulatory and accreditation histories; and
   4. (d) Exercising any power of the commissioner under WAC 284-43A-110.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.43.535, and 48.43.537. WSR 16-23-168 (Matter No. R 2016-17), § 284-43A-030, filed 11/23/16, effective 1/1/17.]