FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6009

C 489 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning long-term care facilities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Keiser, Kastama and Fairley).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Background: Currently, there are 240 licensed nursing facilities in the state, with an average of 91 beds. Approximately half of all residents, about 10,860 people, have services paid through Medicaid contracts with the state, and the rest pay privately. Under current state law, it is illegal to discriminate against Medicaid recipients including to require new residents to give assurances upon admission that they are not eligible or will ever apply for Medicaid. Further, it is also unlawful to deny admission or readmission because of a resident's status as a Medicaid recipient, or to transfer or discharge a patient because of that person's status as a Medicaid recipient.

Summary: Long-term care facilities must fully disclose to residents, orally and in writing prior to admission, the facility's policy on accepting Medicaid as a payment source. This must be done in a language that the resident or the resident's representative understands. The policy must clearly state the circumstances under which the facility provides care to Medicaid eligible residents, and for residents who may later become eligible for Medicaid. Nursing facilities are not required to have a separate disclosure form describing their policy on accepting Medicaid as a payment source.

Votes on Final Passage: