Healthcare (Long-Term Care)

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5407: Delaying the rebasing of the nursing home payment rates to 2028.

SB 5407 delays the annual recalibration (rebasement) of nursing home payment rates under Washington's capital component system from 2023 to 2028. This bill directly affects nursing homes receiving state Medicaid payments in Washington, as it postpones the update to their facility-based payment rates. The key mechanism is amending the law to require a single rebasing in 2028 instead of annual adjustments, maintaining current payment rates for the capital component until that date. This change applies specifically to the capital component of the payment system, which calculates rates based on facility age, square footage, and rental values.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDelays annual payment rate adjustments for nursing homes, maintaining current rates until 2028, effectively deferring necessary funding increases that would support healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1476: Delaying the rebasing of the nursing home payment rates to 2028.

HB 1476 delays the scheduled rebasing of Medicaid nursing home payment rates from fiscal year 2027 to 2028. This freezes current reimbursement rates at 2025 levels for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects nursing home providers (who receive Medicaid payments) and Medicaid beneficiaries (who rely on these facilities for care). The key mechanism is postponing the required rate adjustment to maintain financial stability for providers and prevent disruptions in care quality during the freeze period.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDelays Medicaid payment rate increases, freezing current spending levels for nursing homes and reducing state budget outlays for this program during 2026-2027.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDelays Medicaid nursing home payment rate increases, effectively freezing reimbursement at 2025 levels. This defers necessary funding adjustments, risking provider financial strain and potential service reductions for beneficiaries.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

Track

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1720: Expanding the types of medication assistance that may be provided to residents of community-based care settings.

HB 1720 expands the types of medication assistance nonpractitioners (like care staff) may provide to residents in community-based care settings, such as developmental disability programs, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities. The bill clarifies that "medication assistance" includes actions like reminding residents, handing medication containers, opening containers, or using devices to support self-administration of legend drugs (including controlled substances), but excludes intravenous or injectable medications (except for pre-filled insulin syringes or diabetic device setup). This change allows care staff to provide more hands-on support while ensuring safety through practitioner oversight for medication preparation. The law, effective July 27, 2025, directly affects residents in these settings and their non-medical caregivers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medication assistance roles for nonpractitioners in care settings, improving resident access to medication management in healthcare facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5100: Standardizing basic training and certification requirements for long-term care workers who provide in-home care for their family members, including spouses or domestic partners.

SB 5100 would require family members providing in-home long-term care for relatives (such as spouses, parents, siblings, or grandparents) to complete specific training hours before starting care. It sets different requirements: 12 hours for parents of developmentally disabled children, 15 hours for spouses/partners, and up to 35 hours for others, all within 120 days of hire. Training must include safety, orientation, and care-specific modules, with some hours needed before care begins. This applies to workers previously exempt from certification, while maintaining exemptions for professionals like nurses and certain respite caregivers. The bill is pending legislative action and would standardize training previously not required for these family caregivers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires standardized training for family caregivers, improving care quality and safety in in-home healthcare services, aligning with healthcare service standards.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1578: Repealing the long-term care services and supports trust program.

HB 1578 repeals Washington State's long-term care services and supports trust program, removing specific exemptions that previously allowed certain family caregivers to avoid mandatory training requirements. The bill eliminates provisions that exempted caregivers such as spouses/partners providing care under the trust program, parents caring for children with disabilities, or family members providing limited care (under 20 hours/month or 300 hours/year). This change means these caregivers will now be subject to the same standard training requirements as other long-term care workers under RCW 74.39A.076, including 14-35 hours of approved training within 120 days of starting. The repeal applies to all affected caregivers, ending the special rules established by the repealed trust program.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRepeals long-term care trust program, eliminating exemptions for family caregivers and removing support services, restricting access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1523: Establishing the essential worker health care program.

HB 1523 establishes the Essential Worker Health Care Program to provide nursing home workers in Washington with access to high-quality, affordable health coverage through their employers. Participating nursing home operators receive supplemental funding to support multiemployer health plans, while committing to maintain or increase their spending on employee health benefits (adjusted for inflation) and use funds to supplement, not replace, existing coverage. Employers must document prior health care spending, allocate funds through certified health plans, and report annually on benefit improvements. The program targets workforce instability in nursing homes - where many workers are women of color and immigrants - by aiming to reduce turnover and improve care quality through better health care access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes program providing affordable health coverage for nursing home workers via employer-funded multiemployer plans, requiring maintained benefit spending.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates employer funding for worker health benefits, requires maintained/increased spending on coverage, and expands access to affordable healthcare for nursing home workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1555: Concerning nursing home payment rates.

HB 1555 changes how Washington state pays nursing homes for services starting July 1, 2025. It replaces the current system with a new three-part payment structure: direct care (covering staffing and therapy), indirect care (administrative and maintenance costs), and capital (facility costs). Payment rates will be adjusted annually based on the most recent cost data, with specific caps limiting how much rates can increase compared to previous years (e.g., a 142% cap for 2025). The bill directly affects nursing home providers receiving state Medicaid payments across Washington, aiming to better align payments with actual operating costs while maintaining minimum staffing standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes structured payment rates for nursing homes (direct/indirect care, capital) to ensure stable funding, directly supporting healthcare service delivery and facility operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1926: Regarding training and testing of home care aides.

This bill requires Washington's Department of Health to collaborate with the Department of Social and Health Services to integrate certification testing into home care aide training programs by July 1, 2028. It mandates that exams include both skills demonstrations and knowledge tests, be administered in applicants' preferred languages, and be offered through facility-based or community training programs. The law affects home care aides seeking certification, their training programs, and the departments overseeing testing standards. It also specifies that testing must be conducted fairly and accessible to all applicants, with annual reviews of language-specific exam results.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires standardized certification for home care aides to improve service quality and access, aligning with healthcare workforce standards and patient care outcomes.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates certification standards including skills testing and language access for home care aides, strengthening employment standards and workplace safety for this workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1664: Providing sufficient funding for the Washington state long-term care ombuds program.

HB 1664 requires Washington's long-term care ombuds program to submit annual funding recommendations by September 1 each year. The recommendations must ensure funding achieves a 1:2,000 ombudsman-to-resident ratio (per Institute of Medicine guidelines), account for projected facility bed growth, inflation, and administrative needs. This directly affects residents in licensed long-term care facilities by mandating sufficient resources to investigate complaints and protect their rights. The bill shifts the program from current underfunding to a structured, annually updated funding process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual funding recommendations to maintain 1:2,000 ombudsman ratio, ensuring adequate resources for essential long-term care oversight program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates funding to maintain 1:2,000 ombudsman-to-resident ratio, protecting long-term care residents' rights and ensuring adequate resources for complaint investigations in healthcare facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5291: Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission.

SB 5291 strengthens the WA Cares long-term care program by implementing recommendations from the long-term services and supports trust commission. The bill allows individuals who have paid into the program for at least three years while working in Washington to continue their participation and eligibility for benefits even if they move out of state. It also establishes a clear process for how the program's benefit unit, currently up to $100, will be adjusted annually for inflation using a specific consumer price index. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of approved services to explicitly include long-term services and supports provided in nursing homes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens WA Cares long-term care program by expanding eligibility (out-of-state moves) and adjusting benefits for inflation, directly advancing healthcare access and coverage for long-term services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands portability of long-term care benefits for workers, ensuring continued eligibility after relocation and inflation adjustments, directly strengthening employment-related benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care