SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6453

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of February 5, 2014

Title: An act relating to agency on aging case management oversight.

Brief Description: Concerning each area agency on aging's oversight of timekeeping with regard to case management services.

Sponsors: Senators Dammeier and Keiser; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health Care: 2/04/14.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Staff: Kathleen Buchli (786-7488)

Background: The Department of Social and Health Services contracts with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to provide case management services to consumers receiving home and community services in their own home. Case management responsibilities are set in statute and include the following: verification that individual providers have met training requirements, are performing their duties, and have passed background checks; monitoring a plan of care to verify that it meets the needs of the consumer; and verifying worker time sheets. The verification of worker time sheets requires AAA to verify a sample of paper time sheets kept by the individual providers who provide personal care services to clients.

A new electronic payment system, the ProviderOne Compensation Subsystem Services (PCSS), will be implemented in 2015. Under PCSS, individual providers will electronically report hours worked. PCSS will automatically generate a list of randomly selected time records and send requests to AAA asking for verification that the hours claimed were actually worked.

Summary of Bill: AAA must continue to verify a sample of worker time sheets using paper time sheets until PCSS is available for individual providers to record their hours.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This addresses the transition from paper time sheets to a more accurate electronic system. This will be a system used to audit time sheets and because this can be done electronically, it will improve the auditing process and increase the number of time sheets audited. It makes sense to move in this direction once the ProviderOne system is in place.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Dammeier, prime sponsor; Bill Moss, Dept. of Social and Health Services; Cathy Knight, State Director, WA Assn. of Area Agencies on Aging.