H-1710.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1080
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Valle, Quall, Franklin, Flemming, G. Cole, Eide, Roland and Veloria)
Read first time 02/22/93.
AN ACT Relating to contracts for admission to nursing homes; and adding new sections to chapter 18.51 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:
(1) All nursing homes that require payment of an admissions fee, deposit, or a minimum stay fee, by or on behalf of a person seeking admissions to the nursing home, shall be required to provide the resident, or their representative, full disclosure in writing of the nursing home's schedule of charges for items and services provided by the facility and the amount of any admissions fees, deposits, or minimum stay fees. In addition, the nursing facility shall also fully disclose in writing at the time of admissions what portion of the deposits, admissions fees, or minimum stay fees will be refunded to the resident or their representatives if the resident, expires or is discharged from the nursing facility. All nursing home facilities covered under this section are required to refund any and all refunds due the resident or their representative within thirty days from the resident's date of discharge from the facility.
(2) Where a nursing home requires the execution of an admission contract by or on behalf of an individual seeking admission to the facility, the terms of the contract shall be consistent with the requirements of this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:
The failure of a nursing home to comply with section 1 of this act, is a matter affecting the public interest for the purpose of applying chapter 19.86 RCW and is not reasonable in relation to the development or preservation of business. A violation of section 1 of this act constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in trade or commerce for the purpose of applying chapter 19.86 RCW.
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