DEAR ADMINISTRATOR LETTER ADDRESSES MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS IN LONG TERM CARE SETTINGS
In a Dear Administrator letter to all provider types dated August 13, 2020, the Department of Social and Health Services provides information for long term care providers regarding the extension of Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-19.3. The moratorium applies to all long term care facilities and temporarily prohibits the following activities:
Serving or enforcing, or threatening to serve or enforce, any notice requiring a resident to vacate any dwelling.
Seeking or enforcing, or threatening to seek or enforce, judicial eviction orders involving any dwelling or parcel of land occupied as a dwelling.
Assessing, or threatening to assess, late fees for the non-payment or late payment of rent.
Assessing, or threatening to assess, rent or other charges related to a dwelling or parcel of land occupied as a dwelling for any period during which the resident’s access to, or occupancy of, such dwelling was prevented as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Treating any unpaid rent or other charges related to a dwelling or parcel of land occupied as a dwelling as an enforceable debt or obligation that is owing or collectable, where such non-payment was as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and occurred on or after February 29, 2020.
Increasing, or threatening to increase, the rate of rent for any dwelling, parcel of land occupied as a dwelling.
Retaliating against individuals for invoking their rights or protections under previous eviction moratorium proclamations, or any other state or federal law providing rights or protections for residential dwellings.
Click here to read the letter for additional information about the proclamation and the impact on long term care providers.
DEAR ADMINISTRATOR LETTER PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR SAFE START IN LONG TERM CARE
A Dear Provider letter dated August 12, 2020, provides information for long term care providers regarding safe start for long term care communities. The letter is addressed to all provider types and presents the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Health (DOH) phased Safe Start for Long Term Care for licensed and certified long term care facilities. The letter explains that given the critical importance of limiting COVID-19 exposure in long term care residential care settings and certified supported living agencies, decisions on relaxing restrictions should be made:
With careful review of various unique aspects of the different facilities and communities in which they reside;
In alignment with the Governor’s Proclamations; and
In collaboration with state and local health officials.
DSHS TO AGAIN OFFER ADD-ON RATES AND RETAINER PAYMENTS WEBINAR FOR ASSISTED LIVING
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) staff will be hosting an additional webinar on August 17, 2020, at 10:00 AM related to COVID-19 add-on rates and retainer payments. This presentation is a repeat of the webinar presented on August 10, 2020. The presentation will review information about the additional rates and service codes and what to do when they are available. Please register here if you wish to attend the webinar.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
WHCA continues to post resources and information as it becomes available on our website. If you have questions or need additional information, please call the WHCA office at (800) 562-6170.
