Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 1727
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Raising licensure limits to allow assisted living facilities to serve a higher acuity resident population.
Sponsors: Representatives Morrell, Green, Walsh, Ryu, Appleton, Tharinger and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/19/13
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Types of Residential Long-Term Care Facilities.
The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) licenses three primary types of residential long-term care settings: nursing homes (sometimes referred to as skilled nursing facilities), assisted living facilities, and adult family homes.
Nursing Homes: Nursing homes provide continuous 24-hour convalescent and chronic care. Such care may include the administration of medications, preparation of special diets, bedside nursing care, application of dressings and bandages, and carrying out treatment prescribed by licensed health care providers.
Assisted Living Facilities: Assisted living facilities are community-based residences that provide housing and basic services to seven or more residents. Services provided by assisted living facilities include housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry, and activities. They may also provide domiciliary care including assistance with activities of daily living, health support services, and intermittent nursing services.
Adult Family Homes: Adult family homes are community-based facilities licensed to care for up to six individuals who need long-term care. These homes provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and nursing services.
Services at Assisted Living Facilities.
Residents of assisted living facilities are people who live in the facility for reasons of age or disability and receive services provided by the facility. Assisted living facilities may not admit people who require nursing home or hospital level care or the frequent presence or evaluation of a registered nurse. Services provided to residents by boarding homes include housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry, and activities. They may also provide domiciliary care including assistance with activities of daily living, health support services, and intermittent nursing services. Intermittent nursing services include: medication administration, administration of health care treatments, diabetic management, nonroutine ostomy care, tube feeding, and delegated nursing tasks.
Nonresident individuals may also live in an assisted living facility and receive specified services, but they may not receive domiciliary care from the facility. Some of the services that nonresident individuals may receive upon request include emergency assistance, blood pressure checks, nursing assessment services to determine the need for a referral to an outside health care provider, medication assistance such as reminding, opening containers, prefilling insulin syringes, falls risk assessments, nutrition management and education services, dental services, and wellness programs.
Summary of Bill:
Assisted living facilities may provide extensive and continuing nursing services to meet the needs of medically complex residents. The Department of Social and Health Services must define those services in rule. Assisted living facilities that elect to provide such services must observe the overall functioning of residents receiving these services and respond to any physical, mental, or emotional changes that exceed the facility's capabilities.
The prohibition against assisted living facilities admitting people who require nursing home or hospital level care or the frequent presence or evaluation of a registered nurse is removed. Assisted living facilities must assure that sufficient and appropriately qualified staff are available to provide care and services to residents.
Disclosure forms related to the scope of domiciliary care assistance provided to residents must include any limitations, additional services, or conditions related to the provision of extensive and continuing nursing services.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 20, 2013.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.