H-3361.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2533

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Veloria, Lisk, Quall, Lemmon, L. Johnson, Caver, Mastin, Karahalios and Van Luven

Read first time 01/17/94.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Directing a study of adult family homes.

    AN ACT Relating to adult family homes; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that adult family homes provide a necessary, cost-effective, and caring environment for a range of functionally disabled individuals who choose to receive needed personal care in a homelike environment.  The legislature further finds that as more functionally disabled individuals choose this type of long-term care residential option, additional data is needed about the range of their personal care needs and the capacity of this residential care option.  Additional information and support will in turn allow adult family homeowners and operators to improve their ability to provide the most effective and efficient level of care for their residents.

    It is the intent of the legislature that adult family homes be provided the support and assistance necessary to best care for their functionally disabled residents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The legislative budget committee shall conduct a survey of state contracted adult family homes and report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 12, 1994, on the following issues:

    (1) The type of care setting or residential setting the residents were in prior to residing in an adult family home;

    (2) The average length of stay in an adult family home;

    (3) The physical health status of adult family home residents, including the use of prescriptions and health care services;

    (4) The mental health status of residents, including an approximate number of residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias, or traumatic brain injury; and

    (5) The functional status of residents measured by the need of assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.

    The report shall also contain a comparison of the state reimbursement rates for adult family home residents in Washington state with the state reimbursement rates for adult family home care in all other states.  In addition, the report shall provide a comparison of state reimbursement rates in adult family homes with other types of institutional and noninstitutional care settings in Washington state.

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