_______________________________________________
HOUSE
BILL 2990
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State
of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 01/26/98. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
Creating a pilot project for third-party accreditation of
boarding homes.
AN
ACT Relating to a pilot project for third-party accreditation of boarding
homes; and creating a new section.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)
The legislature recognizes the need to involve the boarding home industry, the
consumers of assisted living and retirement services, the long-term care
ombudsman, and state regulatory agencies in the collaborative process of
developing standards and procedures for accreditation of licensed boarding
homes. As participants, consumers can help develop standards that more closely
address their needs and make the accreditation of boarding home providers more
meaningful to them when choosing among competitors. Providers can maintain
flexibility in the marketplace and more quickly recognize and respond to the
changing needs of its client base. Regulatory agencies can save money and
remain assured that performance standards are high. For these reasons, the
legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the boarding home
industry, boarding home consumers, and state regulatory agencies to support an
industry-funded pilot program prior to changing or developing new standards for
boarding home regulation.
(2)
A coalition of assisted living providers represented by state-wide assisted
living professional trade associations, the long-term care ombudsman, state
regulatory agencies, and consumer groups representing, but not limited to, the
assisted living clientele such as the senior lobby, the American association of
retired persons, and the alzheimer's association shall develop a plan for
implementing a pilot program for the third-party accreditation of boarding
homes licensed under RCW 18.20.020. The pilot plan must be funded by the
assisted living federation of America. The plan shall review the overall
feasibility of implementation, cost or savings to the regulating agency, impact
on client health, safety, quality of care, quality of life, and financial and
other impacts to the boarding home industry. The pilot third-party boarding
home accreditation plan shall be presented to the appropriate committees of the
house of representatives and the senate by January 4, 1999.
Passed the House February 12, 1998.
Passed the Senate March 4, 1998.
Approved by the Governor
March 20, 1998.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State March 20, 1998.
