FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1258

                     Synopsis as Enacted

                          C 53 L 92

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to nursing home administration.

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Day, Moyer, Prentice, Braddock, Paris and Orr; by request of the Department of Health).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  Nursing home administrators are regulated under state law and rules promulgated by the state Board of Examiners for the Licensing of Nursing Administrators.  The board is composed of eight members, appointed by the governor, generally representing professions and institutions concerned with the care and treatment of the chronically ill or elderly infirm, and one citizen member who is eligible for Medicare. Members serve for three-year terms, and are eligible for reappointment.

Nursing home administrators are individuals in active administrative charge of a nursing home, regardless of ownership, administrative experience, or intention to continue administering a nursing home.

Nursing home administrators are not required to be on-site, and may delegate their administrative functions to others.

The Department of Health has no specific authority in the licensing law to set fees, establish forms, issue licenses, employ staff, or maintain records.

The board has authority to adopt rules, determine educational requirements for licensure, administer examinations, conduct hearings, issue subpoenas, and issue temporary licenses.

Applicants for licensure are not required to have baccalaureate degrees.  Licenses must be renewed annually.

Summary:  A number of "house keeping" changes are made in the licensure law for nursing home administrators. The language is up-dated, and obsolete language is repealed.

The name of the board is shortened to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators. The membership of the board is specified to require appointment of four members who each have at least four years experience in nursing home administration and who are not employed by the State or federal government; and four members representing providers of medical or nursing services, or employed by educational institutions with knowledge of health administration, education, or long-term care.  The member representing the public must be a resident of a nursing home, a family member of a resident, or a person eligible for Medicare.  Members serve five-year terms and are limited to two terms.

The board is allowed to define nursing home administrator by board rules.  Nursing home administrators must be both on-site and full time, but, in their absence, may delegate responsibilities to others if done so in writing.  The board is authorized to define the parameters for on-site administrators of rural nursing homes, nursing homes with small populations, and separately licensed facilities collocated on the same campus.

The department's authority to set fees, establish forms, issue licenses, employ staff, and maintain records is specified.

The board's authority to adopt rules, determine minimum educational requirements for licensure, administer examinations, conduct hearings, issue subpoenas, and issue temporary licenses is updated.

Applicants for licensure as a nursing home administrator applying after July 1, 1993, must possess a baccalaureate degree.

The renewal of licenses is authorized on dates to be specified by the secretary of the Department of Health and upon the completion of continuing competency requirements.

Sections of the law are repealed that are in conflict with these changes.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  92   3

Senate 49   0    (Senate amended)

House  90   0    (House concurred)

Effective:    June 11, 1992