Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2320
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: Concerning adult family homes.
Sponsors: Representatives Tharinger, Cody, Lytton, Jinkins, Appleton, Sawyer, Morrell, Wylie, Ormsby and Harris.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/23/14
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
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.
Adult family homes are licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (Department). Adult family homes must meet facility standards as well as requirements for training resident managers and caregivers. Staff of adult family homes who are employed as long-term care workers must meet specific training requirements and, in some instances, become certified as home care aides.
Nonresident individuals in residential care settings.
Assisted living facilities may allow nonresident individuals to live in their facilities. Nonresident individuals may 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, and pre-filling insulin syringes; falls risk assessments; nutrition management and education services; dental services; and wellness programs.
Capital add-on rates in residential care settings.
Assisted living facilities may receive a capital add-on rate to their reimbursement if they have a Medicaid occupancy rate of at least 60 percent. The Medicaid occupancy percentage is determined by comparing Medicaid resident days from the last six months of the prior calendar year against all assisted living facility beds from the same period. There is no similar provision for adult family homes which collectively bargain for their reimbursement rates.
Summary of Bill:
Nonresident individuals in adult family homes.
Adult family homes are permitted to provide specified services to nonresidents at the adult family home. If requested by the individual, services may include:
intermittent or non-routine emergency assistance;
systems to respond to emergencies;
blood pressure checks;
nursing assessment services to determine the need for a referral to a health care provider;
making and reminding nonresident individuals of health care appointments;
pre-admission assessment regarding transitioning to a licensed care setting;
limited medication assistance;
falls risk assessment;
nutrition management;
dental services;
wellness programs;
pre-filling insulin syringes, when performed by a registered nurse; and
customary landlord-tenant services.
Adult family homes may not provide assistance with activities of daily living, health support services, or intermittent nursing services to nonresident individuals.
At the time of admission, adult family homes must provide nonresident individuals with a disclosure statement that informs them that:
Long-term care resident rights do not apply to nonresident individuals.
Licensing requirements for adult family homes do not apply to nonresident beds.
The Long-Term Care Ombuds has no jurisdiction over nonresident individuals and nonresident beds.
Waiver of licensing fees:
The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) may allow a one-time waiver of all or part of licensing and processing fees for an adult family home. The waiver applies in situations in which an adult family home is being re-licensed because of exceptional circumstances, such as the death or incapacity of a provider, and the payment of the fees would present a hardship to the applicant.
Capital add-on rate:
The Department may negotiate a capital add-on rate with adult family homes for those adult family homes that have a Medicaid occupancy rate of at least 60 percent.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.