74.39A.030 - Expansion of home and community services -- Payment rates.

Expansion of home and community services — Payment rates.

(1) To the extent of available funding, the department shall expand cost-effective options for home and community services for consumers for whom the state participates in the cost of their care.

     (2) In expanding home and community services, the department shall: (a) Take full advantage of federal funding available under Title XVIII and Title XIX of the federal social security act, including home health, adult day care, waiver options, and state plan services; and (b) be authorized to use funds available under its community options program entry system waiver granted under section 1915(c) of the federal social security act to expand the availability of in-home, adult residential care, adult family homes, enhanced adult residential care, and assisted living services. By June 30, 1997, the department shall undertake to reduce the nursing home medicaid census by at least one thousand six hundred by assisting individuals who would otherwise require nursing facility services to obtain services of their choice, including assisted living services, enhanced adult residential care, and other home and community services. If a resident, or his or her legal representative, objects to a discharge decision initiated by the department, the resident shall not be discharged if the resident has been assessed and determined to require nursing facility services. In contracting with nursing homes and boarding homes for enhanced adult residential care placements, the department shall not require, by contract or through other means, structural modifications to existing building construction.

     (3)(a) The department shall by rule establish payment rates for home and community services that support the provision of cost-effective care. In the event of any conflict between any such rule and a collective bargaining agreement entered into under RCW 74.39A.270 and 74.39A.300, the collective bargaining agreement prevails.

     (b) The department may authorize an enhanced adult residential care rate for nursing homes that temporarily or permanently convert their bed use for the purpose of providing enhanced adult residential care under chapter 70.38 RCW, when the department determines that payment of an enhanced rate is cost-effective and necessary to foster expansion of contracted enhanced adult residential care services. As an incentive for nursing homes to permanently convert a portion of its nursing home bed capacity for the purpose of providing enhanced adult residential care, the department may authorize a supplemental add-on to the enhanced adult residential care rate.

     (c) The department may authorize a supplemental assisted living services rate for up to four years for facilities that convert from nursing home use and do not retain rights to the converted nursing home beds under chapter 70.38 RCW, if the department determines that payment of a supplemental rate is cost-effective and necessary to foster expansion of contracted assisted living services.

[2002 c 3 § 10 (Initiative Measure No. 775, approved November 6, 2001); 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 2.]

Notes: Findings -- Captions not law -- Severability -- 2002 c 3 (Initiative Measure No. 775): See RCW 74.39A.220 and notes following.

Conflict with federal requirements -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 74.]

Severability -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 119.]

Effective date -- 1995 1st sp.s. c 18: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995." [1995 1st sp.s. c 18 § 120.]