BILL REQ. #:  H-1288.1 

Read first time 02/14/2003.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to regulation of boarding homes; and reenacting and amending RCW 18.20.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.20.010 and 2000 c 171 s 3 and 2000 c 121 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the development, establishment, and enforcement of standards for the maintenance and operation of boarding homes, which, in the light of advancing knowledge, will promote safe and adequate care of the individuals therein. It is further the intent of the legislature that boarding homes be available to meet the needs of those for whom they care by recognizing the capabilities of individuals to direct their self-medication or to use supervised self-medication techniques when ordered and approved by a physician licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW or a podiatric physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW.
     The legislature finds that licensed boarding homes are an essential component of home and community-based services, and that the noninstitutional nature of this care setting must be preserved and protected by ensuring a regulatory structure that focuses on the actual care and services provided to residents, consumer satisfaction, and continuous quality improvement.
     The legislature declares that the state's regulations for licensed boarding homes must be outcome based and designed to encourage individual dignity, autonomy, and choice and to foster affordable residential care.
     The legislature further finds that consumers should be afforded access to affordable long-term care services in licensed boarding homes and believes that care delivery must remain responsive to consumer preferences, not regulatory dictated service and care levels that drive costs and eliminate choice. Residents and consumers in licensed boarding homes should be afforded the right to self-direct care, and this right should be reflected in the rules governing licensed boarding homes.
     The legislature finds that many residents of community-based long-term care facilities are vulnerable and their health and well-being are dependent on their caregivers. The quality, skills, and knowledge of their caregivers are often the key to good care. The legislature finds that the need for well-trained caregivers is growing as the state's population ages and residents' needs increase. The legislature intends that current training standards be enhanced.