WSR 26-12-046
PERMANENT RULES
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed May 29, 2026, 8:52 a.m., effective June 29, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The health care authority (agency) amended these rules and removed short-term post-hospitalization housing from the medical respite program definition, as this housing is separate from medical respite. Medical respite is short-term recovery/rehabilitation for a client's acute medical condition. Additionally, the agency added a definition for rolling 12-month period. The agency also amended discharge and duration of services to clarify the cap of six months of utilization will be per rolling 12-month period for the medical respite program, as this aligns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 182-565-0310, 182-565-0340, and 182-565-0370.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-09-019 on April 3, 2026.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: May 29, 2026.
Wendy Barcus
Rules Coordinator
RDS-7052.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-19-039, filed 9/9/25, effective 10/10/25)
WAC 182-565-0310Definitions.
The following definitions and those found in chapter 182-500 WAC apply to this chapter:
"Behavioral health need" - See WAC 182-565-0110.
"Demonstration period" - See WAC 182-565-0110.
"Facility" - The physical location where the medical respite program provides medical respite care services to clients.
"Homelessness" or "at risk of homelessness" - See WAC 182-565-0110.
"Medical respite care services" - Temporary, short-term room and board, health care services and supports.
"Medical respite program (a.k.a., recuperative care ((and short-term post-hospitalization housing)))" - A not-for-profit organization that serves clients whose medical and behavioral health need medical respite care services.
"Rolling 12-month period" - Calculation of eligibility based on the 12 months immediately preceding any new request for services. The rolling 12-month period moves forward with each new episode of care ensuring a consistent limit on total days used, capped at 180 days within that rolling year.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-19-039, filed 9/9/25, effective 10/10/25)
WAC 182-565-0340Discharge.
(1) The medical respite program will discharge the client when the client meets one of the following:
(a) No longer benefits from medical respite care services;
(b) Reaches the 90-day utilization limit for their current admission or the six-month utilization limit during the ((demonstration period))rolling 12-month period; or
(c) An appropriate alternative service becomes available.
(2) The six-month utilization period limit is shared amongst other housing support services including, but not limited to, housing transition navigation services, and rent/temporary housing.
(3) The medical respite program must begin discharge planning upon the client's admission and maintain discharge planning throughout the client's stay at the facility.
(4) To discharge a client, the program must provide a referral tailored to client needs, to include:
(a) Potential housing options;
(b) Referrals to appropriate health care providers;
(c) Supportive services; and
(d) Provide advance and written notice of discharge to the client, and as applicable, the client's health care provider, managed care organization, and caregivers.
(5) Upon admission and discharge, the program must provide an admission or discharge summary to the client, the health care provider, the managed care organization if applicable, and other persons or entities requested by the client. The admission or discharge summary must include the following:
(a) Written medication list and medication refill information;
(b) Admitting primary diagnosis following discharge from the hospital or referral from a medical clinic;
(c) Estimated or documented length of stay in the medical respite program;
(d) Ongoing medical needs or conditions;
(e) Instructions for accessing relevant resources within the community including shelters or other housing options;
(f) A list of follow-up appointments and contact information for treating providers;
(g) Special medical instructions (e.g., weight-bearing limitations, dietary precautions, allergies, wound orders);
(h) Pain management plan; and
(i) A point of contact for the client.
(6) The medical respite program must ensure adequate protocols are in place for the transfer of client information and access to electronic records to appropriate providers and, if applicable, the client's managed care organization.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-19-039, filed 9/9/25, effective 10/10/25)
WAC 182-565-0370Duration of services.
Medical respite care services are short-term((, limited to 90 consecutive days and no more than six months (180 days) during the demonstration period)). For medical respite care, short-term is defined as up to 90 days per instance, and up to six months cumulative utilization per rolling 12-month period with the limitation that the six-month utilization limit is shared amongst other housing support services. The other housing support services that share the six-month utilization limit with medical respite care include, but are not limited to, housing transition navigation services and rent/temporary housing. See WAC 182-565-0340.