Today is the 19^th day of the regular short legislative session. There are 41 days remaining until scheduled adjournment.

This week in Olympia, our work focused on ensuring the Legislature understands the current operating challenges for our skilled nursing and assisted living centers providing care for clients who require support from the state Medicaid program. This is critically important timing, as state budget leaders are working now to draft the state supplemental operating budget that will affect skilled nursing and assisted living Medicaid rates through June 30, 2023. Both the House and the Senate have an established deadline of February 3 for submission of budget priorities. We anticipate that the House and Senate supplemental proposals will be released mid-February.

For assisted living providers caring for state Medicaid clients, the priority is to work with budget writers to move the rates methodology from the current level of 60 percent funded to 77 percent—more equitable with funding for adult family home care. We continue to remind legislators that the same clients are served in these community-based care settings.

Representative Jessica Bateman (D-22) is advancing a proviso to House budget leaders in support of this funding. Representative Joe Schmick (R-9) has agreed to join her in support of a $29.7 million state general fund investment in assisted living care. Senator Sam Hunt (D-22) is sponsoring this funding with Senate budget writers. We are asking our assisted living members to communicate with their legislators about the importance of this funding. Click here to send a message to your legislators reminding them about your important work, and the need to invest in the only community-based care setting with private apartments. Your advocacy is important, and it will take less than three minutes to reach out.

For skilled nursing facilities, our work this week is two-fold:

Seek “Bridge Funding” to the July 1, 2022, Rebase to 2020 Base Costs. The two-year public health emergency is squarely centered in state skilled nursing facilities. Current Medicaid rates are based on 2019 costs, and while the base rates will be updated on July 1, a hypercompetitive labor market and extraordinary cost growth in recent months are taking a tremendous toll. Uncompensated costs continue to climb, and the staffing crisis, combined with local health jurisdiction control over admission policies and facilities’ quarantine policies are deeply impacting facility revenues. There are providers who report they will not make it to the July 1 rebase. To that end, we are seeking $26 million in federal COVID relief to bridge to the July 1 rebase. Special thanks to our members who are working now to communicate with urgency about the need for this support. Click here to send a message to legislators regarding the urgent need for this funding. Your outreach with legislators will help ensure this issue remains in the forefront.

Wage Equity Proposal for Low-wage SNF Workers. We continue to work with proponents including SEIU 775 and Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34), chair of the House Health Care Committee, and Rep. Monica Stonier (D-49) related to a proposal that would raise low earner wages by up to $4 dollars per hour. The goal is to drive resources to critically necessary support staff who provide care and services. Our proposal would provide over $50 million of funding to raise the wages of low wage direct care and indirect care workers.

We continue to monitor and provide our feedback to legislators related to a number of policy measures currently under consideration by legislators.

HB 1868/SB 5751: Hospital Nurse Staffing Legislation. We continue to raise concerns about legislation that would set stringent nurse staffing requirements for hospitals. Our argument centers on current difficulties in hiring and retaining staff, and the need to consider the downstream impact of such measures. Click here to register your concern with legislators. HB 1868 passed from the policy committee in the House. SB 5751 is scheduled for public hearing on Monday morning.

HB 1732 and HB 1733: Legislation concerning WA Cares, the LTC trust that would fund a LTC benefit for all vested workers quickly passed the Legislature and were signed into law by Governor Inslee this week. HB 1732 delays collection of premiums by 18 months to July 2023. HB 1733 adds certain exemptions.

As always, we are proud to be your voice with key policymakers, and we rely on you to be the voice with your local legislators. If you need any support, please email Sam Sullivan who can help you connect with your legislators.