2154-S

AN ACT Relating to residents of long-term care facilities; amending RCW 18.20.120; adding a new section to chapter 18.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 72.36 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.128 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. INTENT. The legislature recognizes that long-term care facilities are a critical part of the state's long-term care services system. It is the intent of the legislature that individuals who reside in long-term care facilities receive appropriate services, be treated with courtesy, and continue to enjoy their basic civil and legal rights.

It is also the intent of the legislature that long-term care facility residents have the opportunity to exercise reasonable control over life decisions. The legislature finds that choice, participation, privacy, and the opportunity to engage in religious, political, civic, recreational, and other social activities foster a sense of self-worth and enhance the quality of life for long-term care residents.

The legislature finds that the public interest would be best served by providing the same basic resident rights in all long-term care settings. Residents in nursing facilities are guaranteed certain rights by federal law and regulation, 42 U.S.C. 1396r and 42 C.F.R. part 483. It is the intent of the legislature to extend those basic rights to residents in veterans' homes, boarding homes, and adult family homes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of state government responsible for licensing the provider in question.

(2) "Facility" means a long-term care facility.

(3) "Long-term care facility" means a facility that is licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20, 72.36, or 70.128 RCW.

(4) "Resident" means the individual receiving services in a long-term care facility, that resident's attorney in fact, guardian, or other legal representative acting within the scope of their authority.

(5) "Physical restraint" means a manual method, obstacle, or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident's body that restricts freedom of movement or access to his or her body.

(6) "Chemical restraint" means a psychopharmacologic drug that is used for discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.

(7) "Legal representative" means a person appointed by the court, or otherwise authorized by law, to act on the resident's behalf.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS. The resident has a right to a dignified existence, self-determination, and communication with and access to persons and services inside and outside the facility. A facility must actively protect and promote the rights of each resident and actively assist the resident in exercising those rights, including each of the following rights:

(1) The resident has the right to exercise his or her rights as a resident of the facility and as a citizen or resident of the United States and the state of Washington.

(2) The resident has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and reprisal from the facility in exercising his or her rights.

(3) In the case of a resident adjudged incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, the rights of the resident are exercised by the person appointed to act on the resident's behalf.

(4) In the case of a resident who has not been adjudged incompetent by the state court, a legal surrogate designated in accordance with RCW 7.70.065 may exercise the resident's rights to the extent provided by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. NOTICE OF RIGHTS AND SERVICES. (1) The facility must inform the resident both orally and in writing in a language that the resident understands of his or her rights and all rules and regulations governing resident conduct and responsibilities during the stay in the facility. The notification must be made prior to or upon admission and during the resident's stay. Receipt of the information, and amendments to it must be acknowledged in writing. Rules or regulations that unreasonably restrict the rights of a resident as set forth in this chapter are null and void.

(2) The resident or his or her legal representative has the right:

(a) Upon an oral or written request, to access all records pertaining to himself or herself including clinical records within twenty-four hours; and

(b) After receipt of his or her records for inspection, to purchase at a cost not to exceed the community standard photocopies of the records or portions of them upon request and two working days' advance notice to the facility.

(3) The facility must inform each resident in writing before, or at the time of admission, and periodically during the residents stay, of services available in the facility and of charges for those services including charges for services not covered by the facility's per diem rate or applicable public benefit programs.

(4) The facility must furnish a written description of legal rights that includes:

(a) A description of the manner of protecting personal funds, under section 5 of this act;

(b) A posting of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the state survey and certification agency, the state licensure office, the state ombudsmen program, and the protection and advocacy systems; and

(c) A statement that the resident may file a complaint with the appropriate state licensing agency concerning resident abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of resident property in the facility.

(5) Notification of changes.

(a) A facility must immediately inform the resident; consult with the resident's physician; and if known, notify the resident's legal representative or an interested family member when there is:

(i) An accident involving the resident which results in injury and has the potential for requiring physician intervention;

(ii) A significant change in the resident's physical, mental, or psychosocial status (i.e., a deterioration in health, mental, or psychosocial status in either life-threatening conditions or clinical complications).

(b) The facility must also promptly notify the resident and, if known, the resident's legal representative or interested family member when there is:

(i) A change in room or roommate assignment; or

(ii) A decision to transfer or discharge the resident from the facility.

(c) The facility must record and periodically update the address and phone number of the resident's legal representative or interested family member.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. PROTECTION OF RESIDENT'S FUNDS. (1) The resident has the right to manage his or her financial affairs, and the facility may not require residents to deposit their personal funds with the facility.

(2) Upon written authorization of a resident, if the facility agrees to manage the resident's personal funds, the facility must hold, safeguard, manage, and account for the personal funds of the resident deposited with the facility as specified in this section.

(3)(a) The facility must deposit a resident's personal funds in excess of one hundred dollars in an interest-bearing account or accounts that is separate from any of the facility's operating accounts, and that credits all interest earned on residents' funds to that account. In pooled accounts, there must be a separate accounting for each resident's share.

(b) The facility must maintain a resident's personal funds that do not exceed one hundred dollars in a noninterest-bearing account, interest-bearing account, or petty cash fund.

(4) The facility must establish and maintain a system that assures a full and complete and separate accounting of each resident's personal funds entrusted to the facility on the resident's behalf.

(a) The system must preclude any commingling of resident funds with facility funds or with the funds of any person other than another resident.

(b) The individual financial record must be available on request to the resident or his or her legal representative.

(5) Upon the death of a resident with a personal fund deposited with the facility the facility must convey within forty-five days the resident's funds, and a final accounting of those funds, to the individual or probate jurisdiction administering the resident's estate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY. The resident has the right to personal privacy and confidentiality of his or her personal and clinical records.

(1) Personal privacy includes accommodations, medical treatment, written and telephone communications, personal care, visits, and meetings of family and resident groups. This does not require the facility to provide a private room for each resident however, a resident cannot be prohibited by the facility from meeting with guests in his or her bedroom if no roommates object.

(2) The resident may approve or refuse the release of personal and clinical records to an individual outside the facility unless otherwise provided by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. GRIEVANCES. A resident has the right to:

(1) Voice grievances. Such grievances include those with respect to treatment that has been furnished as well as that which has not been furnished; and

(2) Prompt efforts by the facility to resolve grievances the resident may have, including those with respect to the behavior of other residents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. EXAMINATION OF SURVEY OR INSPECTION RESULTS. A resident has the right to:

(1) Examine the results of the most recent survey or inspection of the facility conducted by federal or state surveyors or inspectors and plans of correction in effect with respect to the facility. A notice that the results are available must be publicly posted with the facility's state license, and the results must be made available for examination by the facility in a place readily accessible to residents; and

(2) Receive information from agencies acting as client advocates, and be afforded the opportunity to contact these agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. MAIL AND TELEPHONE. The resident has the right to privacy in communications, including the right to:

(1) Send and receive promptly mail that is unopened;

(2) Have access to stationery, postage, and writing implements at the resident's own expense; and

(3) Have reasonable access to the use of a telephone where calls can be made without being overheard.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. ACCESS AND VISITATION RIGHTS. (1) The resident has the right and the facility must not interfere with access to any resident by the following:

(a) Any representative of the state;

(b) The resident's individual physician;

(d) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for developmentally disabled individuals as established under part C of the developmental disabilities assistance and bill of rights act;

(e) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for mentally ill individuals as established under the protection and advocacy for mentally ill individuals act;

(f) Subject to reasonable restrictions to protect the rights of others and to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time, immediate family or other relatives of the resident and others who are visiting with the consent of the resident;

(g) The agency responsible for the protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities as established under section 509 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, who are not served under the mandates of existing protection and advocacy systems created under federal law.

(2) The facility must provide reasonable access to a resident by an entity or individual that provides health, social, legal, or other services to the resident, subject to the resident's right to deny or withdraw consent at any time.

(3) The facility must allow representatives of the state ombudsman to examine a resident's clinical records with the permission of the resident or the resident's legal representative, and consistent with state and federal law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. PERSONAL PROPERTY. (1) The resident has the right to retain and use personal possessions, including some furnishings, and appropriate clothing, as space permits, unless to do so would infringe upon the rights or health and safety of other residents.

(2) The facility shall, upon request, provide the resident with a lockable container or other lockable storage space for small items of personal property, unless the resident's individual room is lockable with a key issued to the resident.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. TRANSFER AND DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS. (1) The facility must permit each resident to remain in the facility, and not transfer or discharge the resident from the facility unless:

(a) The transfer or discharge is necessary for the resident's welfare and the resident's needs cannot be met in the facility;

(b) The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered;

(d) The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for a stay at the facility; or

(e) The facility ceases to operate.

(2) Before a facility transfers or discharges a resident, the facility must:

(a) Notify the resident and, if known, a family member or legal representative of the resident of the transfer or discharge and the reasons for the move in writing and in a language and manner they understand;

(b) Record the reasons in the resident's record; and

(3)(a) Except when specified in this subsection, the notice of transfer of discharge required under subsection (2) of this section must be made by the facility at least thirty days before the resident is transferred or discharged.

(b) Notice may be made as soon as practicable before transfer or discharge when:

(i) The safety of individuals in the facility would be endangered;

(ii) The health of individuals in the facility would be endangered;

(iii) An immediate transfer or discharge is required by the resident's urgent medical needs; or

(iv) A resident has not resided in the facility for thirty days.

(4) The written notice specified in subsection (2) of this section must include the following:

(a) The reason for transfer or discharge;

(b) The effective date of transfer or discharge;

(d) The name, address, and telephone number of the state long-term care ombudsman;

(e) For residents with developmental disabilities, the mailing address and telephone number of the agency responsible for the protection and advocacy of developmentally disabled individuals established under part C of the developmental disabilities assistance and bill of rights act; and

(f) For residents who are mentally ill, the mailing address and telephone number of the agency responsible for the protection and advocacy of mentally ill individuals established under the protection and advocacy for mentally ill individuals act.

(5) A facility must provide sufficient preparation and orientation to residents to ensure safe and orderly transfer or discharge from the facility.

(6) A resident discharged in violation of this section has the right to be readmitted immediately upon the first availability of a gender-appropriate bed in the facility.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. RESTRAINTS. The resident has the right to be free from physical restraint or chemical restraint imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience, and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms. This section does not require facility staff to review the judgment of the resident's physician in prescribing psychopharmacologic medications.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. ABUSE. The resident has the right to be free from verbal, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, corporal punishment, and involuntary seclusion.

(1) The facility must:

(a) Not use verbal, mental, sexual, or physical abuse, including corporal punishment or involuntary seclusion;

(b) Not employ individuals who are barred from employment by RCW 43.43.842.

(2) The department of social and health services shall provide background checks required by RCW 43.43.842 for employees of facilities licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW without charge to the facility.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. QUALITY OF LIFE. A facility must care for its residents in a manner and in an environment that promotes maintenance or enhancement of each resident's quality of life. A resident has the right to a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, allowing the resident to use his or her personal belongings to the extent possible.

(1) The facility must promote care for residents in a manner and in an environment that maintains or enhances each resident's dignity and respect in full recognition of his or her individuality.

(2) The resident has the right to:

(a) Choose activities, schedules, and health care consistent with his or her interests, assessments, and plans of care;

(b) Interact with members of the community both inside and outside the facility;

(d) Wear his or her own clothing and determine his or her own dress, hair style, or other personal effects according to individual preference, within reasonable house rules;

(e) Unless adjudged incompetent or otherwise found to be incapacitated under the laws of the state, participate in planning care and treatment or changes in care and treatment;

(f) Unless adjudged incompetent or otherwise found to be incapacitated under the laws of the state, to direct his or her own service plan and changes in the service plan, and to refuse any particular service.

(3)(a) A resident has the right to organize and participate in resident groups in the facility.

(b) A resident's family has the right to meet in the facility with the families of other residents in the facility.

(d) Staff or visitors may attend meetings at the group's invitation.

(e) When a resident or family group exists, the facility must listen to the views and act upon the grievances and recommendations of residents and families concerning proposed policy and operational decisions affecting resident care and life in the facility.

(f) The resident has the right to refuse to perform services for the facility except as voluntarily agreed by the resident and the facility in the resident's service plan.

(4) A resident has the right to participate in social, religious, and community activities that do not interfere with the rights of other residents in the facility.

(5) A resident has the right to:

(a) Reside and receive services in the facility with reasonable accommodation of individual needs and preferences, except when the health or safety of the individual or other residents would be endangered; and

(b) Receive notice before the resident's room or roommate in the facility is changed.

(6) A resident has the right to share a double room with his or her spouse when married residents live in the same facility and both spouses consent to the arrangement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. FEE DISCLOSURE‑-DEPOSITS. (1) All long-term care facilities or nursing facilities licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW that require payment of an admissions fee, deposit, or a minimum stay fee, by or on behalf of a person seeking admissions to the long-term care facility or nursing facility, shall be required to provide the resident, or his or her representative, full disclosure in writing of the long-term care facility or nursing facility'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 long-term care facility or 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 his or her representative if the resident leaves the long-term care facility or nursing facility. If a resident, during the first thirty days of residence, dies or is hospitalized and does not return to the facility, the facility shall refund any deposit already paid less the facility's per diem rate for the days the resident actually resided or reserved a bed in the facility notwithstanding any minimum stay policy. All long-term care facilities or nursing 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. Nothing in this section applies to provisions in contracts negotiated between a nursing facility or long-term care facility and a certified health plan, health or disability insurer, health maintenance organization, managed care organization, or similar entities.

(2) Where a long-term care facility or nursing facility 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. 17. LIABILITY MAY NOT BE WAIVED. No long-term care facility or nursing facility licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW shall require residents to sign waivers of potential liability for losses of personal property.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. OMBUDSMAN IMPLEMENTATION DUTIES. The long-term care ombudsman shall monitor implementation of this chapter and determine the degree to which veterans' homes, nursing facilities, adult family homes, and boarding homes ensure that residents are able to exercise their rights. The long-term care ombudsman shall consult with the departments of health and social and health services, long-term care facility organizations, resident groups, and senior and disable citizen organizations and report to the house of representatives committee on health care and the senate committee on health and human services concerning the implementation of this chapter with any applicable recommendations by July 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The remedies provided in this chapter are cumulative and shall not restrict an agency or person from seeking a remedy provided by law or from obtaining additional relief based on the same facts, including any remedy available to an individual at common law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. RIGHTS ARE MINIMAL. The rights set forth in this chapter are the minimal rights guaranteed to all residents of long-term care facilities, and are not intended to diminish rights set forth in other state or federal laws that may contain additional rights.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. A new section is added to chapter 18.20 RCW to read as follows:

BOARDING HOMES. Chapter 70.-- RCW (sections 1 through 20 of this act) applies to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 22. A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:

NURSING HOMES. Sections 16 through 20 of this act apply to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 23. A new section is added to chapter 72.36 RCW to read as follows:

VETERAN HOME. Chapter 70.-- RCW (sections 1 through 20 of this act) applies to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. A new section is added to chapter 70.128 RCW to read as follows:

ADULT HOMES. Chapter 70.-- RCW (sections 1 through 20 of this act) applies to this chapter and persons regulated under this chapter.

Sec. 25. RCW 18.20.120 and 1957 c 253 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

All information received by the department or authorized health department through filed reports, inspections, or as otherwise authorized under this chapter, shall not be disclosed publicly in any manner as to identify individuals or boarding homes, except ((~~in a proceeding involving the question of licensure~~)) at the specific request of a member of the public and disclosure is consistent with RCW 42.17.260(1).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 26. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. FEDERAL SEVERABILITY. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 28. APPROPRIATION. The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the department of social and health services to carry out the duties imposed under section 14 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 29. CAPTIONS. Captions as used in this act constitute no part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 30. CODIFICATION. Sections 1 through 20 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. The house of representatives health care committee shall assess the potential impact of this act upon the administration of an integrated long-term care system for persons with functional disabilities and make recommendations to the house of representatives by December 12, 1994.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 32. Nothing in this act shall effect the classifying of an adult family home for the purposes of zoning.