FINAL BILL REPORT

                 2SHB 2239

                         C 164 L 97

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Providing for conversion of nursing home bed capacity to enhanced residential care services.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by  Representative Sherstad).

House Committee on Health Care

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  In 1995 ESSHB 1908 was enacted creating both assisted living and enhanced adult residential care services. These services are designed to offer persons who are otherwise eligible for nursing home services a choice in receiving limited nursing services in a licensed boarding home.  These services may be received either in a private apartment-like unit (assisted living) or in a semi-private room without the full functional or structural amenities of an apartment-like unit (enhanced adult residential care).  The Department of Social and Health Services is prohibited from requiring licensed nursing homes to make structural modifications for the purpose of providing enhanced adult residential care.

Since the passage of ESSHB 1908, only one licensed nursing home has reportedly converted its beds to provide enhanced adult residential care.  Nursing home administrators suggest that one reason for the lack of enhanced adult residential care beds is the failure of the law to clearly direct the Department of Health to not require licensed nursing homes to comply with boarding home construction and life safety requirements.  Additionally, by Department of Health regulation, outside health care services cannot be provided to residents in semi-private rooms.

Summary:  Certain restrictions are removed that discourage nursing homes from providing enhanced adult residential care.  Licensed nursing homes that choose to be licensed as boarding homes for the purpose of providing enhanced residential care can be deemed to be in compliance with the boarding home building code and life safety requirements.  The Department of Health is directed to allow outside health care services to be provide in semi-private rooms.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  96 0

Senate 46 0

Effective:July 27,  1997