CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5864

 

 

                   Chapter 312, Laws of 1999

 

 

                        56th Legislature

                      1999 Regular Session

 

 

LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES--KITSON ACT

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/25/99

Passed by the Senate April 22, 1999

  YEAS 44   NAYS 0

 

 

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

 

Passed by the House April 13, 1999

  YEAS 95   NAYS 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5864 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

        JOHN E. PENNINGTON, JR.

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

            TONY M. COOK

                            Secretary

 

 

 

              FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the

      House of Representatives

 

 

Approved May 14, 1999 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.  

                                FILED          

 

 

             May 14, 1999 - 6:22 p.m.

 

 

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                 Secretary of State

                 State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5864

          _______________________________________________

 

                      AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

             Passed Legislature - 1999 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Fairley, Thibaudeau and Kohl‑Welles)

 

Read first time 03/03/99.

Allowing a health maintenance organization to return an individual to his or her nursing care facility.  


    AN ACT Relating to allowing residents of long-term care facilities to return to their home; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and creating new sections.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that a long-term care facility is home for any individual who resides there, and the individual has the right to receive services in his or her own home and to be cared for by the organization with which he or she has a contractual agreement to provide housing and related services.  The legislature further finds that restricting individuals from returning to the long-term care facility in which they were residing prior to hospitalization may detrimentally impact the health and well-being of frail individuals and their families.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A carrier that provides coverage for a person at a long-term care facility following the person's hospitalization shall, upon the request of the person or his or her legal representative as authorized in RCW 7.70.065, provide such coverage at the facility in which the person resided immediately prior to the hospitalization if:

    (a) The person's primary care physician determines that the medical care needs of the person can be met at the requested facility;

    (b) The requested facility has all applicable licenses and certifications, and is not under a stop placement order that prevents  the person's readmission;

    (c) The requested facility agrees to accept payment from the carrier for covered services at the rate paid to similar facilities that otherwise contract with the carrier to provide such services; and

    (d) The requested facility, with regard to the following, agrees to abide by the standards, terms, and conditions required by the carrier of similar facilities with which the carrier otherwise contracts:  (i) Utilization review, quality assurance, and peer review; and (ii) management and administrative procedures, including data and financial reporting that may be required by the carrier.

    (2) For purposes of this section, "long-term care facility" or "facility" means a nursing facility licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW, continuing care retirement community defined under RCW 70.38.025, boarding home licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or assisted living facility.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  This act may be known and cited as the Kitson act.


    Passed the Senate April 22, 1999.

    Passed the House April 13, 1999.

Approved by the Governor May 14, 1999.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 14, 1999.