Welcome to the Advocacy Exchange, where action, information, and community collide. Featuring opportunities for powerful action, behind-the-scenes updates from the WHCA staff, and inspiring stories from your colleagues in long-term care, this is your destination for advocacy.

Action

AL – HB 1859

One of our core charges is protecting our members from bad bills. And right now, there is a very, very bad bill on the move. We need your help this week to stop it in its tracks.

HB 1859 would apply federal SNF regulations to all home and community-based settings. Among many other significant issues, the discharge appeal window would be lengthened from 30 to 90 days. That means if you have a resident whose care needs you can’t meet, or who poses a threat to other residents and staff, this bill could force you to retain that resident for two extra months. Learn more about the bill and take action here.

AL – Medicaid Funding

We are making a big push this session to increase labor rates and the SDC add-on for Medicaid-contracted providers. When other care settings’ labor costs are almost fully covered but assisted living only sees 79% of those costs reimbursed, competing for quality staff is near-impossible. Send a message to your legislators today urging them to support AL Medicaid funding,

SNF – PDPM Implementation

Big changes are underway as skilled nursing providers move to the new patient driven payment model (PDPM). DSHS needs additional flexibility to implement this change, which SB 5802 provides. This is a technical, non-controversial bill – which means it could easily slip through the cracks. SB 5802 was heard in Committee today. Send a message to your legislators urging their support for this bill.

Information

Federal Legislation Supports Childcare in LTC

Alongside our Argentum colleagues, WHCA staff partnered with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland’s office to introduce her to co-located daycare services. As a result, she stepped up to sponsor the Care Across Generations Act. This innovative legislation would establish a grant program for multigenerational activities in long-term care facilities, addressing urgent issues like loneliness and understaffing that plague both the senior and child-care sectors.

WHCA staff facilitated Rep. Strickland’s introduction to Summit Place Assisted Living in Bellingham, where a co-located childcare center has brought great benefits to both senior residents and the children they interact with. We will continue to provide support as this legislation moves through Congress.

Connection

AL Providers Testify on Medicaid Funding Shortfall.

We are committed to ensuring providers’ voices are heard in the Legislature, and last week our members delivered. Seven assisted living representatives spoke compellingly of the need for increased labor and SDC funding. Their words had great impact – legislators were even quoting their testimony in the days afterward. Testifying on legislation is an incredibly powerful way to advocate – and we do everything possible to ensure our members are prepared and effective. If you’d like to learn more about legislative advocacy, please email Eric Negomir.

Carolyn Driscoll, The Sequoia Assisted Living

Watch your peers’ testimony here:

1/8/24 House Appropriations Committee

• Zack Wester, Noble Healthcare
• Angie Silvan, Westhaven Villa and Riverside Place
• Nikki Storms, Chehalis West

1/9/24 Senate Ways and Means Committee

• Zack Wester, Noble Healthcare
• Nikki Storms, Chehalis West
• Tammi Elswick, Heritage House Morton
• Carolyn Driscoll, The Sequioa
• Michelle Dube, Beehive

1/10/24 House Appropriations Committee



• Linzi Michel, The Cambridge
• Michelle Dube, Beehive
• Carolyn Driscoll, The Sequoia

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Tumwater, WA 98501

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