SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5185
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long‑Term Care, February 14, 2001
Ways & Means, March 6, 2001
Title: An act relating to increasing community residential options for nursing facility eligible clients.
Brief Description: Developing a home and community‑based waiver for persons in community residential settings.
Sponsors: Senators Thibaudeau, Winsley, Costa and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long‑Term Care: 1/22/01, 2/14/01 [DPS‑WM].
Ways & Means: 2/22/01, 3/6/01 [DP2S].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5185 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Fraser and Winsley.
Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786‑7198)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5185 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Constantine, Vice Chair; Fairley, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hewitt, Honeyford, Kline, Kohl‑Welles, Long, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Rossi, Sheahan, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Winsley and Zarelli.
Staff: Tim Yowell (786-7435)
Background: The Community Options Program Entry System (COPES) is a federally matched long-term care waiver program providing people with incomes under $1,590 per month the opportunity to have the services they need delivered at adult family homes, boarding homes or in their own home. Individuals with incomes in excess of this are not able to participate in COPES. Their options are to pay privately for services if possible; to receive unpaid help from family or friends; to enter a nursing facility where Medicaid will cover the difference between their income and the nursing home rate; or to go without services.
Summary of Second Substitute Bill: The Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to provide Medicaid coverage of home- and community-based long-term care services for persons whose incomes exceed 300 percent of the federal SSI benefit rate (currently $1,590 per month for a single person). The number of persons and the services to be covered are to be as specified in the waiver agreement or agreements with the federal government and subject to conditions or appropriated funds.
Second Substitute Bill Compared to Substitute Bill: Enrollment levels and services are subject to conditions specified in the appropriations act.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: A second waiver was added to include in‑home services as an option.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For (Health & Long-Term Care): This allows people whose income goes up slightly to stay where they are or leave nursing facilities to get service in the community.
Testimony Against (Health & Long-Term Care): None.
Testified (Health & Long-Term Care): PRO: Michael Longyear, WSBA, Elder Law Section; Peter Greenfield, KCBA & ADS Advisory Council; Kathy Leitch, Penny Black, DSHS AASA; Bruce Reeves, Senior Citizens' Lobby.
Testimony For (Ways & Means): The Department of Social and Health Services believes that, if they can qualify for community services, there are enough people who will move from nursing homes to cover the cost of long-term care and medical services for the people who will newly qualify for Medicaid under this legislation.
Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.
Testified (Ways & Means): PRO: Denise Gaither, Penny Black, DSHS Aging and Adult Services Administration.