FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6225

PARTIAL VETO

C 142 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning boarding home domiciliary services.

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

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

Background: Boarding homes are facilities that provide long-term care services and housing to thousands of individuals in this state. This is defined in statute as "domiciliary care." 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, DSHS began allowing boarding homes to admit people with greater medical and health care needs. The department also increased the care and services requirements that all licensed boarding homes must provide.

Besides the individuals who seek care and services in a boarding home, there are others who do not wish to receive any services, but want to live independently.

There is concern in the boarding home community that current state requirements of licensed boarding homes are too rigorous, and not flexible enough to provide for the wide range of individuals who wish to live in them.

Summary: The current statutory definition of "domiciliary care" is expanded to specify levels of care including activities of daily living, health support services, and intermittent nursing services. Boarding homes may choose not to provide more than basic services. This level of services must be fully disclosed to residents. Boarding homes must notify residents and their legal representative in writing 90 days in advance of a decrease in the level of services that results in discharge of residents.

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.

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 have a short-term illness.

Boarding homes that provide health support services may provide dementia care, mental health care and care for people with developmental disabilities.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       95  0    (House amended)

Senate       49  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: March 26, 2004

September 1, 2004 (Sections 1-10, 12)

Partial Veto Summary: The veto deleted language requiring DSHS to conduct a study determining potential financial impacts of new boarding home rules, including the degree to which payments for boarding home services are related to actual costs of providing services. Current law already requires this study.