BILL REQ. #:  S-4540.1 

Read first time 01/25/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to resident participation in the informal dispute resolution process; amending RCW 18.20.195; and adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 18.20.195 and 2005 c 506 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The licensee or its designee has the right to an informal dispute resolution process to dispute any violation found or enforcement remedy imposed by the department during a licensing inspection or complaint investigation. The purpose of the informal dispute resolution process is to provide an opportunity for an exchange of information that may lead to the modification, deletion, or removal of a violation, or parts of a violation, or enforcement remedy imposed by the department.
     (2) The informal dispute resolution process provided by the department shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, an opportunity for review by a department employee who did not participate in, or oversee, the determination of the violation or enforcement remedy under dispute. The department shall develop, or further develop, an informal dispute resolution process consistent with this section.
     (3) A request for an informal dispute resolution shall be made to the department within ten working days from the receipt of a written finding of a violation or enforcement remedy. The request shall identify the violation or violations and enforcement remedy or remedies being disputed. The department shall convene a meeting, when possible, within ten working days of receipt of the request for informal dispute resolution, unless by mutual agreement a later date is agreed upon.
     (4) The department shall provide an opportunity during the informal dispute resolution process for input from interested residents and resident representatives. This input must be provided in a meeting, conducted either by telephone or in person, that is separate from the department's meeting with the licensee or its designee. The term "resident representatives" means those individuals with authority to act on behalf of residents with diminished capacity, including guardians, trustees, agents holding durable power of attorney, and family members with authority under RCW 7.70.065. Representatives of the long-term care ombudsman program may also provide input at the request of residents, their representatives, or the department.
     (5) If the department determines that a violation or enforcement remedy should not be cited or imposed, the department shall delete the violation or immediately rescind or modify the enforcement remedy. If the department determines that a violation should have been cited under a different more appropriate regulation, the department shall revise the report, statement of deficiencies, or enforcement remedy accordingly. Upon request, the department shall issue a clean copy of the revised report, statement of deficiencies, or notice of enforcement action.
     (((5))) (6) The request for informal dispute resolution does not delay the effective date of any enforcement remedy imposed by the department, except that civil monetary fines are not payable until the exhaustion of any formal hearing and appeal rights provided under this chapter. The licensee shall submit to the department, within the time period prescribed by the department, a plan of correction to address any undisputed violations, and including any violations that still remain following the informal dispute resolution.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:
     Whenever the department conducts an informal dispute resolution process with the nursing home provider, following a licensing or certification survey or a complaint investigation, the department shall provide an opportunity for input from interested residents and resident representatives. This input must be provided in a meeting, conducted either by telephone or in person, that is separate from the department's meeting with the nursing home provider. The term "resident representatives" means those individuals with authority to act on behalf of residents with diminished capacity, including guardians, trustees, agents holding durable power of attorney, and family members with authority under RCW 7.70.065. Representatives of the long-term care ombudsman program may also provide input at the request of residents, their representatives, or the department.