Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Keiser, Parlette, Winsley and Rasmussen).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House Committee)

• Allows Boarding Homes more flexibility in the level of care they may provide.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Moeller, Rodne, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Boarding homes provide long-term care services and housing to thousands of individuals in this state. Roughly 70 percent of the residents of boarding homes pay for their care with private means, the rest through state-funded programs. Boarding homes are regulated by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Boarding homes use disclosure forms to describe the services and care they provide. Disclosure is part of the requirements of having a boarding home license. Recently, the DSHS began allowing boarding homes to admit people with greater medical and health care needs. The DSHS also increased the care and services requirements that all licensed boarding homes must provide.

When a boarding home decides to decrease the scope of services provided in their facility, and that change results in the need to discharge a resident, the boarding home must provide 90 days written notice to the resident and their legal representative. Boarding homes may select to provide assistance with activities of daily living and if they choose to do so, will provide the minimal level of assistance. Boarding home licensees will permit residents to contract for the delivery of care or services on-site from outside parties.

A boarding home licensee may permit a family member to administer medications or treatment assistance to residents. Conditions for family assistance are described.

The pre-admission review process is condensed into eight areas of assessment, and provisions are added allowing greater opportunity for emergency admissions.

The DSHS must report to the Legislature by December 12, 2005, on the payment system for licensed boarding homes.

Language provides for the immediate discharge of any resident who needs 24 hours of continuous skilled nursing care or supervision, excluding persons who are receiving hospice care, or has a short-term illness.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately, except for sections 1 through 10, and 12, relating to levels of service delivery, which take effect September 1, 2004.

Testimony For: Boarding homes need greater flexibility in designing the level of services that will be offered in their facilities. Liability for boarding homes related to services by outside contractors should be reduced.

Testimony Against: Boarding homes should not be allowed to change the level of services provided. Residents will be forced out of boarding homes into nursing homes if that happens.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; Nancy Mohrmann, Foss Home and Village; Nancy Baker, Crista; Beth Johnston, Alpine Way; Brendan Williams, Washington Health Care Association; Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging; and Tom Gray, Bethany of the Northwest.

(Opposed) Pat Lashway, Department of Social and Health Services; Kary Hyre, Long-term Care Ombudsman; Hilke Faber, Resident Councils of Washington; Bruce Reeves, Senior Citizens Lobby; and David Lord, Washington Protection and Advocacy System.