HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1621
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to modification of the mandatory nurse review of medicaid personal care plans.
Brief Description: Modifying medical assistance provisions.
Sponsors: By Representatives Morrell, Pflug, Skinner, Cody, Clibborn and Schual-Berke; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care: 2/11/03, 2/20/03 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/11/03, 91-0.
Passed Senate: 4/17/03, 44-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Bill |
• Removes the mandatory nurse review of all plans of care in the Personal Care Program. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Edwards, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).
Background:
Personal Care Services are provided to eligible individuals through the Aging and Disability Services Administration within the Department of Social and Health Services (Department). The program is financed through the Federal Medicaid Program. The Program requires that clients be assessed by a nurse to determine whether they have a medical condition that requires assistance with personal care tasks.
Summary of Bill:
The Department will determine by rule which clients in the Personal Care Program have a health-related assessment or service planning need that requires registered nurse consultation or review. The requirement that plans of care must be reviewed by a nurse is removed, and replaced with permissive language that allows for nurse review, but does not require it.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This change will give the Department flexibility to use their staff more efficiently and effectively.
Testimony Against: Giving the Department flexibility to determine when a registered nurse should review a plan of care may result in a vulnerable person not being seen by a nurse.
Testified: (In support) Penny Black, Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Disability Services Administration; and Richard Dorsett, Area Agencies on Aging.
(Support with concerns) L. Mike Freeman, citizen advocate.