FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5499

                          C 190 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Making modifications to the home health, hospice, and home care agency licensure law.

Sponsors:  Senators Wojahn, Deccio, Franklin, Winsley, Costa, McAuliffe, Kline and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

Background:  The home care licensure law regulates home health, hospice, and home care agencies.  Implementing legislation was in 1988, with some revisions in 1993.  Since that time, the home care industry has undergone significant changes.  Today the industry treats many more people in their homes than it did ten years ago.  It also provides services to a much more diverse population, thanks in part to advances in medical technology.  Services are provided to clients of all ages, and include everything from highly medically acute, to long-term care for people with diabetes, AIDS, Alzheimer=s, and cancer.

Last year licensure fees for home care, home health, and hospice agencies were raised by 20 percent.  These fees reflect changes in survey practices and other regulatory activities  performed by the department in response to the growth of the industry.

The industry has sought changes in the home care licensure law to make regulatory practices more efficient than current law permits.

Summary:  The Department of Health is authorized to determine home care licensure fees based on the geographic area served, the number of agency sites, and volume of service provided.

The department is given authority to prorate licensure fees to facilitate combined inspections when the same entity has multiple licenses.

The definition of Abranch office@ is removed and replaced with the term Aservice area.@

The department is directed to report to the health care committees of the Legislature by November 1999 with recommendations for any further changes needed to the licensure law.  The department is directed to study certain areas to determine if additional enforcement tools are needed for public protection.

It is stated that it is not the intent to expand or disallow the number or types of home health care services unless related to the need for trained and available staff.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 49 0

House     93 0 (House amended)

Senate    45 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1999