Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senator Fairley).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

(As Amended by House)

• Individuals living in long-term care facilities affiliated with a nursing home may be admitted to the nursing home if their living situation requires it without being placed on a waiting list.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Bailey, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Benson, Clibborn, Darneille, Moeller, Rodne and Schual-Berke.

The expansion of opportunities in the long-term care industry has resulted in companies that offer residents the spectrum of living arrangements, from the independent continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), to assisted living, to nursing homes, often on the same campus, or the same neighborhood. The arrangements provide residents with the security they will be able to transfer to the more intensive care situation as they need it. There is concern that residents who need to leave their CCRC or assisted living situation because of a sudden decline in their health are not able to go to the head of the waiting list for admission to the nursing facility under the same ownership.

Nursing facilities under common ownership with boarding homes or independent housing are not required to place the names of applicants from those facilities on the same waiting list as outside applicants for their nursing facility placements. Denying admission to an outside applicant is not considered discrimination if it is done to accommodate someone from a commonly owned boarding home or CCRC.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: People living in continuing care retirement communities should be able to enter an affiliated nursing home without first being placed on a waiting list. Residents of nursing homes who require a hospital stay should be able to return to their nursing home without being placed on a waiting list.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging.

(Support with amendment) Kary Hyre and Jeff Crollard, Long-term Care Ombudsman Program.