1548-S AMH SHMK BLAC 037

SHB 1548 - H AMD 129

By Representative Schmick

ADOPTED 03/01/2017

    On page 4, line 31, after "individuals" strike "suffering from mental illness" and insert "((suffering from mental illness)) who have a behavioral health condition. Hours worked by geriatric behavioral health workers may be recognized as direct care hours for purposes of the minimum staffing requirements only up to a portion of the total hours equal to the proportion of resident days of clients with a behavioral health condition identified at that facility on the most recent semi-annual minimum data set"

    On page 7, after line 9, insert the following:

    "(5) For the purposes of this section, "behavioral health condition" means one or more of the behavioral symptoms specified in section e of the minimum data set."

EFFECT:   Allows the exception to minimum staffing standards in nursing homes to be applied to geriatric behavioral health workers providing direct care services to individuals with a "behavioral health condition" (rather than those "suffering from mental illness"). Defines "behavioral health condition" as one or more behavioral symptoms specified in Section E of the Minimum Data Set.

Allows hours worked by geriatric behavioral health workers to be recognized as direct care hours up to a portion of total hours equal to the proportion of resident days of clients at the facility with a behavioral health condition.

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