SENATE BILL REPORT

SJM 8007

BYSenators Wojahn, Deccio, Barr and Moore

Petitioning Congress to authorize hospitals to use excess beds for nursing home care.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 25, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Scott Plack (786-7409)

                  March 20, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, JANUARY 22, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The interchangeable use of rural acute care hospital beds as SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) or ICF (Intermediate Care Facility) beds for Medicare and Medicaid patients was permitted by the federal government in 1980.  These interchangeable beds or "swing beds" allow rural hospitals with excess acute care beds to use them as nursing home beds and "swing" them back to acute care beds when needed.  Rural hospitals having less than fifty acute care beds are permitted to participate in the program.  Federal rules require that swing beds have a certificate of need if the state has a nursing home bed certificate of need program.

The State of Washington implemented a swing bed program in July 1983.  The State Health Coordinating Council has authorized an exemption from the state's certificate of need program for rural hospitals converting a maximum of five swing beds.  As of September 1986, sixteen hospitals have participated in the swing bed program.

Urban hospitals and hospitals with fifty or more beds are not permitted by federal law to participate in the swing bed program.

SUMMARY:

The President and Congress are memorialized to permit urban hospitals, and hospitals with fifty or more beds to participate in the swing bed program.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: No one