Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
SSB 6453
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 verification of hours worked through electronic timekeeping by area agencies on aging and home care agencies.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Dammeier and Keiser; by request of Department of Social and Health Services).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/24/14
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) contracts with area agencies on aging to provide case management services to consumers receiving home and community services in their own home. Case management responsibilities are set in statute and include the following: verification that individual providers have met training requirements, are performing their duties, and have passed background checks; monitoring a plan of care to verify that it meets the needs of the consumer; and verifying worker time sheets. The verification of worker time sheets requires area agencies on aging to verify a sample of paper time sheets kept by the individual providers who provide personal care services to clients.
Home care agencies provide home care services to individuals in their places of residence. Home care services are non-medical services and assistance provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals to allow them to remain in their residences. These services include personal care for the individual, homemaker assistance with household tasks, respite care assistance and support for the family, and other non-medical services or delegated nursing tasks.
Starting July 1, 2010, the DSHS has been prohibited from paying a home care agency for in-home personal care or respite services if the home care agency does not verify the agency employee hours by electronic timekeeping. The 2013-15 State Omnibus Operating Appropriations Act authorized the DSHS to establish exemptions to electronic timekeeping requirements for home care agencies to address situations in which a landline is not available.
Summary of Bill:
The case management responsibilities of area agencies on aging related to verifying worker time sheets continues until the state electronic payment system is available for individual providers to record their hours.
An exception is established to the prohibition on the Department of Social and Health Services from paying home care agencies if they do not verify employee hours electronically. The exception applies in circumstances in which the home care agency verifies that electronic verification is not possible.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 20, 2014.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.