ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5716

BySenate Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senator Rivers)

AN ACT Relating to certain surveys performed on in-home services agencies; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

(a) An evaluation of:

(i) The current process that the department of health, the department of social and health services, and area agencies on aging use to perform oversight and surveys on in-home services agencies including, but not limited to: The in-home services agencies subject to surveys, the frequency of the surveys, and who is performing the surveys; and

(ii) Auditing and monitoring assessment tools utilized during the on-site monitoring, state licensure, and validation surveys with a focus on analyzing how surveys are performed, the length of the surveys, and the differences between the tools;

(b) A determination of whether the current auditing and monitoring assessment tools are ensuring that in-home services agencies are complying with state and federal laws and regulations;

(c) A determination if the current process and compliance models are the most efficient available and accurately measured, do not duplicate survey efforts, and ensure in-home services agencies are complying with state and federal laws and regulations; and

(d) A review of any duplication of surveys conducted while ensuring that the in-home services agencies are meeting the standards outlined in state and federal law.

(2) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall submit a final report on their findings to the appropriate committees of the legislature by October 1, 2024, and shall submit a progress report by December 1, 2023.

(3) This section expires December 31, 2025.

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