EMERGENCY RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Aging and Disability Services Administration)
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: The department is creating new WAC 388-96-758 and 388-96-759 to increase compensation for low-wage workers in nursing homes beginning July 1, 2008, and to establish a system of reporting to ensure that the low-wage add-on increased the compensation/benefits for low-wage workers; increased staff; and/or paid for wage compression when low-wage workers' compensation was increased.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 74.46 RCW.
Other Authority: Section 206(9), chapter 329, Laws of 2008.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: This emergency rule implements section 929, chapter 329, Laws of 2008, [which] states "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately." This third emergency supersedes the previous emergency filed as WSR 08-22-016. The department has filed the CR-102 as WSR 09-04-066 and is holding a hearing on March 10, 2009.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: February 17, 2009.
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator
4003.6(a) Increase wages, benefits, and/or staffing levels for certified nurse aides;
(b) Increase wages and/or benefits but not staffing levels for dietary aides, housekeepers, laundry aides, or any other category of worker whose statewide average dollars-per-hour wage was less than fifteen dollars in calendar year 2006, according to cost report data. The department has determined that the additional categories of workers qualifying under this standard are:
(i) Activities directors and assistants;
(ii) Patient choices coordinators;
(iii) Central supply/ward clerks;
(iv) Expanded community service workers; and
(v) Social workers; and
(c) Address wage compression for related job classes immediately affected by wage increases to low-wage workers.
(2) A nursing home that received effective July 1, 2008 a low-wage add-on under chapter 329, Laws of 2008 shall report to the department its expenditure of that add-on by:
(a) Completing Cost Report Schedule L 1; and
(b) Returning it to the department by January 31, 2009.
(3) By examining Cost Report Schedule L 1, the department will determine whether the nursing home complied with the statutory requirements for distribution of the low wage add-on. When the department is unable to determine or unsure that the statutory requirements have been met, it will conduct an on site audit.
(4) When the department determines that the statutory requirements have been met, the low wage add-on will be reconciled at the same time as the regular settlement process but as a separate reconciliation. The reconciliation process will compare gross dollars received in the add-on to gross dollars spent.
(5) When the department determines that the low wage add-on has not been spent in compliance with the statutory requirements, then it will recoup the noncomplying amount as an overpayment.
(6) The department also will require the completing of Cost Report Schedule L 1 for any calendar year in which the low wage add-on is paid for six months or more. Subsections (1) through (5) of this section will apply to all completions of Cost Report Schedule L 1 irrespective of the calendar year in which it is paid.
(7) If the legislature extends the low-wage worker add-on in the state fiscal year 2010 budget, nursing home providers will have the opportunity again to elect whether they wish to receive the add-on in their July 1, 2009 rates.
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(2) Any type of traditional employee benefit is allowable. Such benefits typically fall in one of two categories: retirement, and life or health insurance. However, nontraditional benefits are also allowable (for example, wellness benefits, subsidized meals, or assistance with daycare).
(3) The employer's share of payroll taxes associated with wages and benefits may be covered with the add-on.
(4) For purposes of wage compression, an "immediately affected" job class is one that is related to the low-wage worker category, either in the organizational structure (for example, it supervises the low-wage worker category) or by existing practice (for example, the facility has a benchmark of paying that job class a certain percentage more than the low-wage worker category). Facilities must be able to explain the basis of the relationship if requested. Because the statute refers to "resulting wage compression," a facility must use a portion of the add-on to increase wages or benefits before it may use any of the add-on to address any wage compression caused by such increase.
(5) A facility may use the add-on in relation to any of the job categories listed in WAC 388-96-758, regardless of whether the average wage it pays to its own employees is above fifteen dollars per hour, either before or after including the additional wages funded by the add-on.
(6) Wages or benefits, including employee bonuses, otherwise properly paid with the add on will not be considered as unallowable costs per RCW 74.46.410 (2)(x).
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