HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2380

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to boarding homes.

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

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Parlette and Edwards; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/25/00, 2/2/00 [DPS].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$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).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Cody, Democratic Co-Chair; Parlette, Republican Co-Chair; Pflug, Republican Vice Chair; Schual-Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander; Campbell; Conway; Edmonds; Edwards; Mulliken; Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786-7383).

Background:

Based in part on a series of reports by the Washington State Long-term Care Ombudsman that documented significant concerns with administrative oversight of the boarding home complaint investigation process, 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 Washington State 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, and to determine whether additional changes should be made.  The Task Force established a stakeholders subcommittee made up of consumers, advocates, providers, and the DSHS.  The Task Force recommended that "the boarding home oversight program should remain with the DSHS."

Summary of Substitute 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)

Technical housekeeping changes are made.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The intent section giving the DSHS the exclusive authority to license ad regulate boarding homes is removed.  Technical housekeeping changes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 2000.

Testimony For:  Boarding homes administered within the DSHS will provide the administrative consistency necessary to develop needed improvements in care.

(Concerns) It is important that the department continue to work closely with providers and keep them involved in the process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support) Kary Hyre, Long-term Care Ombudsman; Duane Thurman, Governor's Executive Policy Office; Pat Lashway, Department of Social and Health Services; Bruce Reeves, Senior Citizen's Lobby; Bob First, American Association of Retired Persons; and Jerry Reilly, Washington Health Care Association.

(In support with concerns) Tom Stanley, Attorney for Assisted Living Providers; Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; and Nick Federici, Washington Health Housing and Services for the Aging.