H-4040.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2492

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Representatives Dyer, O'Brien, Skinner, Scott, Cooper, Gombosky, Kenney, Cody, Conway, Eickmeyer, Romero, Appelwick, Radcliff, Cooke, Tokuda, Dunshee, Kastama, Anderson, Buck, Mason, Sullivan, Gardner and Backlund

Read first time 01/14/98.  Referred to Committee on Health Care.

Providing adequate discharge planning for individuals requiring long-term care services.

    AN ACT Relating to discharge planning for individuals requiring long-term care services; amending RCW 74.39A.090; making appropriations; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 74.39A.090 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 s 38 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The legislature intends that any staff reassigned by the department as a result of shifting of the reauthorization responsibilities by contract outlined in this section shall be dedicated for discharge planning and assisting with discharge planning and information on existing discharge planning cases.  Discharge planning, as directed in this section, is intended for residents and patients identified for discharge to long-term care pursuant to RCW 70.41.320, 74.39A.040, and 74.42.058.  The purpose of discharge planning is to protect residents and patients from the financial incentives inherent in keeping residents or patients in a more expensive higher level of care and shall focus on care options that are in the best interest of the patient or resident.

    (2) The department shall contract with area agencies on aging:

    (a) To provide case management services to individuals receiving home and community services in their own home; ((and))

    (b) To reassess and reauthorize home and community services in home or in other settings for individuals consistent with the intent of this section:

    (i) Who have been initially authorized by the department to receive home and community services; and

    (ii) Who, at the time of reassessment and reauthorization, are receiving home and community services in their own home; and

(c) To provide for a maximum average caseload of seventy-five individuals per case manager, as specified in each contract.

    (3) In the event that an area agency on aging is unwilling to enter into or satisfactorily fulfill a contract to provide these services, the department is authorized to:

    (a) Obtain the services through competitive bid; ((and))

    (b) Provide the services directly until a qualified contractor can be found; and

(c) In either case, require a maximum average caseload of seventy-five individuals per case manager.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The sum of six million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund--state to the department of social and health services for the purposes of this act.

    (2) The sum of six million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund--federal to the department of social and health services for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act takes effect July 1, 1998.

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