Full Report: Click to Download OAAPS FFY 2023 Report    The post Washington State LTC Ombudsman Federal Annual Report for FFY 2023 appeared first on Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program ..read more

December 2023 by Patricia Hunter, State LTC Ombuds Click Here to read article The post Seattle Times Guest Opinion about HB 1859 appeared first on Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program ..read more

December 18, 2023 by Adam Chromy Click Here to read article   The post Residents of long-term care facilities need stronger eviction protections appeared first on Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program ..read more

We the undersigned individuals and organizations support robust resident rights for individuals living in licensed long-term care and believe that all residents should be provided the same basic human rights and protections, regardless of the kind of setting they live in. We ask the legislature to fulfill the promise made in RCW. 70.129 “The legislature finds that the public interest would be best served by providing the same basic resident rights in all long-term care settings. Residents in nursing facilities are guaranteed certain rights by federal law and regulation, 42 U.S.C. 1396r and 42 ..read more

Full Report: Click to Download OAAPS FFY 2022 Report Summary: What we see in FFY 2022 is an increase in the ombudsman’s presence in facilities and growth in providing advocacy, information, and education.  This makes sense given the high use of COVID vaccines in Washington State, through policy mandates requiring long-term care workers, residents, and ombudsmen to be vaccinated, and the creation of viable treatments to reduce serious illness or shorten symptoms of COVID. In FFY 2022, the program experienced a decrease in the number of volunteers and paid program staff. Volunteers rose up ..read more

Click here to download PDF Bill Number  Bill Sponsor  Subject  Current Status  LTCOP Position   Comments   HB 1694-  Alvarado    Addressing home care workforce shortages.  Apr 19 Delivered to Governor.  Support  Working with bill sponsor.   SB 5120-    Dhingra  Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state.  Apr 24 Delivered to Governor.  Support with concerns     SB 5163-     Rivers  Removing the sunset provisions on the Medic ..read more

Click here to download a PDF of the tracker.  Bill Number  Bill Sponsor  Subject  Current Status  LTCOP Position   Comments   HB 1694-  Alvarado    Addressing home care workforce shortages.  IN THE HOUSE   4/13- House concurred in Senate amendments.  Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.  Support  Working with bill sponsor.   SB 5120-    Dhingra  Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state.  IN THE SENATE   4/13 ..read more

Click Here to Download PDF   Bill Number  Bill Sponsor  Subject  Current Status  LTCOP Position   Comments   HB 1694-  Alvarado    Addressing home care workforce shortages.  3/17- In the Senate- Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM.  Support  Working with bill sponsor. No change since last tracker.   SB 5120-    Dhingra  Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state.  3/22- Scheduled for executive session in the ..read more

Click Here to Download PDF.    Bill Number  Bill Sponsor  Subject  Current Status  LTCOP Position   Comments   HB 1694-  Alvarado    Addressing home care workforce shortages.  3/17- In the Senate- Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM (Subject to change).   Support  Working with bill sponsor  SB 5120-    Dhingra  Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state.  3/15- Scheduled for public hearing in the House C ..read more

Re: APA Appeal- WACs 388-76, 388-78A, and 388-107 Dear Professor Brodoff: On December 29, 2022, the Governor’s Office received the appeal you filed following the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) decision to deny your petition to amend WACs 388-76, 388-78A, and 388-107, all relating to discharge rights for residents in adult family homes, assisted living facilities, and enhanced services facilities (referred to here, collectively as long­ term care facilities (LTCs)). Under RCW 34.05.330(3), I may consider appeals from agency denials of petitions to amend existi ..read more