HB 1426-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Establishes a quality improvement program for boarding homes.

     Provides that the quality improvement consultation program shall be offered to boarding homes on a voluntary basis.  Based on requests for the services of the quality improvement consultation program, the department may establish a process of prioritizing service availability.

     Provides that to facilitate collaboration and trust between the boarding homes and the department's quality improvement consultation program staff, the consultation program staff shall not simultaneously serve as department licensors, complaint investigators, or participate in any enforcement-related decisions, within the region in which they perform consultation activities; except such staff may investigate on an emergency basis, complaints anywhere in the state when the complaint indicates high risk to resident health or safety.

     Declares that any records or information gained as a result of their work under the quality improvement consultation program shall not be disclosed to or shared with nonmanagerial department licensing or complaint investigation staff, unless necessary to carry out duties described under chapter 74.34 RCW.