FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 1023

C 220 L 20

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Allowing certain adult family homes to increase capacity to eight beds.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Macri, Harris, Cody, MacEwen, Pollet, DeBolt, Springer, Kretz, Appleton, Caldier, Slatter, Vick, Stanford, Fitzgibbon, Riccelli, Robinson, Kloba, Valdez, Ryu, Tharinger, Jinkins, Wylie, Goodman, Bergquist, Doglio, Chambers, Senn, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Frame, Ormsby and Reeves).

House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care

Background:

Adult family homes are community-based facilities licensed to care for up to six individuals who need long-term care. These homes provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and nursing services.

Adult family homes are licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services and must meet facility standards as well as training requirements for resident managers and caregivers. An adult family home may only admit residents whose needs and preferences the home is able to meet through available staff and reasonable accommodations. Each resident must receive identified care and services in a manner and environment that supports, maintains, or improves the resident's quality of life. The services must be provided by appropriate professionals based upon the resident's assessment and negotiated care plan.

Summary:

An adult family home provider (provider) may increase the adult family home's (home) bed capacity to seven or eight beds.  A provider may apply for a license to operate with seven or eight beds if:

• the provider received the home's initial license at least 24 months prior to application;

• the home has been licensed for six residents for at least 12 months prior to application;

• the home has completed two full inspections without any enforcement actions;

• the provider attests that an increase will not adversely affect the health, safety, or quality of life of the home's current residents;

• the home is in compliance with Department of Social and Health Services (Department) rules regarding emergency evacuation;

• the home has a residential sprinkler system in place for residents who require assistance during an evacuation; and

• the provider has paid any required fees.

The fee for an application to increase the bed capacity of a home is established in the operating budget.

The increase in bed capacity is permissible if the provider demonstrates financial solvency and management experience for the home.  In addition, the provider must be able to meet safety, health, and operating standards related to the operation of a seven- or eight-bed home, including the mitigation of potential traffic impacts.  The Department must also consider comments related to quality of care and quality of life from current residents, as well as their views on adding more residents to the home.

A home that applies for an increase in capacity up to eight beds must notify all residents and their designated guardians about the increase at least 60 days prior to admitting a seventh resident. The notice must be in writing in a manner or language understood by the residents and their designated representatives.

The Department must provide written notification to the local jurisdiction in which the home is located regarding the applicant's request to increase bed capacity. The local jurisdiction may provide recommendations to the Department regarding whether or not the increase in bed capacity should be approved. In addition, the Department must conduct an inspection of the home prior to issuing a license to determine if the home is able to meet the needs of eight residents. The Department may reduce the maximum number of beds to six if there has been serious noncompliance with licensing standards.

To change ownership of a seven- or eight-bed home, the new provider must be a provider of a home that has been licensed for at least 24 months, with six residents for at least 12 of those months. In addition, the home that is the subject of the proposed change of ownership must have completed at least two full inspections with the last two full inspections not having resulted in any enforcement actions.

Votes on Final Passage: