FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2380

                          C 47 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Clarifying the authority of the department of social and health services concerning boarding homes.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Cody, Parlette and Edwards; by request of Governor Locke).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

A series of reports by the Washington Long-term Care Ombudsman documented significant concerns with administrative oversight of the boarding home complaint investigation process. Based in part on these reports, the 1998 Legislature transferred responsibility for all boarding home quality assurance activities, including licensing, technical assistance, and complaint investigation/resolution, from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).  The transfer is set to expire on July 1, 2000, unless reauthorized by the Legislature.

The 1998 Legislature established a Joint Legislative and Executive Task Force on Long-term Care.  One of the twelve specific duties of the task force was to evaluate the success of the boarding home program transfer from the DOH to the DSHS, and to determine whether additional changes should be made.  The task force established a stakeholders subcommittee made up of consumers, advocates, providers, and technical experts with the DSHS.  The task force recommended that the boarding home oversight program remain with the DSHS.

Summary of Bill:

The authorization requiring the transfer of the authority to administer boarding homes back to the Department of Health (DOH) by July 1, 2000, is removed.  The authority to administer boarding home quality assurance activities, including licensing, technical assistance, and complaint investigation/resolution is maintained within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

The DSHS is required to establish a boarding home advisory board for the purpose of seeking comments and recommendations prior to the adoption of boarding home rules and standards, implementation of programs, and the development of methods and rates of payments.  The advisory board must also review the department's inspection and enforcement process and their quality improvement activities.  Membership and a minimal meeting schedule are outlined.

Boarding home inspections are required to focus primarily on actual or potential resident outcomes.

Technical housekeeping changes are made.

Votes on Final Passage:

  House  96 0

Senate 45 0 (Senate amended)

House(House refused to concur)

Senate460(Senate amended)

House980(House concurred)

Effective:July 1, 2000