SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 2811

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,

                               FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Exempting excess nursing supplies cost from the reimbursement of the pilot facility for persons living with AIDS.

SPONSORS: Representatives Braddock, Locke, H. Sommers, Wang, Prentice, Moyer, Schmidt, Paris, Wineberry and Anderson

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; M. Kreidler, Niemi, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Sarena Seifer (786‑7417)

Hearing Dates: February 26, 1992; February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

A 1989 amendment to the Washington State health plan authorized a pilot long-term care facility specially designed to meet the needs of people with AIDS.  Known as the Bailey-Boushay House, the recently completed 35-bed skilled nursing care facility is the first such licensed care facility in the United States.  Licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) as both a skilled nursing facility and adult day health center, the Bailey-Boushay House is operated by Virginia Mason Medical Center through a lease agreement with AIDS Housing of Washington.

A 1989 amendment to the state's Nursing Home Auditing and Cost Reimbursement Act permits DSHS to reimburse the Bailey-Boushay House for a higher number of nursing hours per patient day than is allowed in other skilled nursing facilities.

Estimates of nursing supply costs for Bailey-Boushay House are approximately seven times the average nursing supply costs in long-term care.  The increased expense reflects the intensity of nursing services and supplies, such as intravenous therapy, required by people with AIDS.  The current reimbursement formula for nursing supplies applies to all long-term care facilities in the state, including the Bailey-Boushay House.

SUMMARY:

The cost of nursing supplies at the pilot long-term care facility designed for persons with AIDS which exceed the average cost of nursing supplies for Medicaid nursing facilities statewide is exempt from the state's reimbursement formula.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The act is made null and void if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 1992 in the Omnibus Appropriations Act.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Nursing supplies for residents at the Bailey-Boushay House are approximately seven times the statewide average in long-term care facilities.  Nearly all of the Bailey-Boushay House residents will be covered by Medicaid.  The success of this innovative model for the care of persons with AIDS depends on the financial stability which will result from the passage of this bill.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Robert Rohan, AIDS Housing of Washington (pro)