H-3943              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1714

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representative Braddock

Read first time 1/22/88 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to nursing home patients; adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 74.42 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 18.51 RCW to read as follows:

          Before admission to a nursing home of a person who is eligible or who will be eligible within six months of admission for medical assistance under chapter 74.09 RCW, the department shall require that a preadmission screening be made to evaluate the need of the individual for nursing home services or whether an intermediate level of services or community-based care is appropriate.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

          In order to avoid the inappropriate expenditure of public funds, the department shall assure that individuals who are likely to become eligible for medical assistance are evaluated in accordance with section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 74.42 RCW to read as follows:

          Before admission to a facility, a medicaid recipient, or a person who is likely to become eligible for medicaid within six months of admission, shall be evaluated under section 1 of this act.