FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6466

C 34 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Regarding the admission of residents to nursing facilities.

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

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

Background: 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.

Summary: 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. Nursing facilities must readmit residents who have been hospitalized, or have been gone on therapeutic leave, if the resident needs nursing facility services and is Medicaid eligible.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       95  0    (House amended)

Senate       46  0    (Senate concurred)

Effective: March 22, 2004