HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2380

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to boarding homes.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the authority of the department of social and health services concerning boarding homes.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Cody, Parlette and Edwards; by request of Governor Locke).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/25/00, 2/2/00 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/11/00, 96-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate:  3/1/00, 45-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The authority to administer boarding home quality assurance activities, including licensing, technical assistance, and complaint investigation/resolution is maintained within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

$A boarding home advisory board is established.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Edwards; Mulliken; Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:

Based in part on a series of reports by the Washington State Long-term Care Ombudsman that documented significant concerns with administrative oversight of the boarding home complaint investigation process, the 1998 Legislature transferred responsibility for all boarding home quality assurance activities, including licensing, technical assistance, and complaint investigation/resolution from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  The transfer is set to expire on July 1, 2000, unless reauthorized by the Legislature.

The 1998 Washington State Legislature established a Joint Legislative and Executive Task Force on Long-term Care.  One of the twelve specific duties of the Task Force was to evaluate the success of the boarding home program transfer, and to determine whether additional changes should be made.  The Task Force established a stakeholders subcommittee made up of consumers, advocates, providers, and the DSHS.  The Task Force recommended that "the boarding home oversight program should remain with the DSHS."

Summary of Bill:

The authorization requiring the transfer of the authority to administer boarding homes back to the Department of Health (DOH) by July 1, 2000 is removed.  The authority to administer boarding home quality assurance activities, including licensing, technical assistance, and complaint investigation/resolution is maintained within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)

The Department of Social and Health Services is required to establish a boarding home advisory board for the purpose of seeking comments and recommendations prior to the adoption of boarding home rules and standards, implementation of programs, the development of methods and rates of payments, and the department's inspections, enforcement, and quality improvement activities.  membership and minimal meeting schedule is outlined.

Technical housekeeping changes are made.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): Requires that by March 2002, boarding home administrators and caregivers have and an orientation before beginning employment and must pass department-approved basic training.  Boarding home administrators are required to have speciality training if they serve residents with special needs.  A  steering committee for long-term care training is established.  Boarding home regulations are required to focus primarily on actual or potential resident outcomes. The authority for conducting boarding home plan reviews is clarified.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2000.

Testimony For:  Boarding homes administered within the DSHS will provide the administrative consistency necessary to develop needed improvements in care.

(Concerns) It is important that the department continue to work closely with providers and keep them involved in the process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Kary Hyre, Long-term Care Ombudsman; Duane Thurman, Governor's Executive Policy Office; Pat Lashway, Department of Social and Health Services; Bruce Reeves, Senior Citizen's Lobby; Bob First, American Association of Retired Persons; and Jerry Reilly, Washington Health Care Association.

(In support with concerns) Tom Stanley, Attorney for Assisted Living Providers; Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; and Nick Federici, Washington Health Housing and Services for the Aging.