Residential Long-Term Care Facilities Specialty Contracts

Announcements

 

Washington State offers a variety of innovative home and community-based service options in Long-Term Care facilities to support client choice.  These facilities are licensed and monitored by Residential Care Services (RCS) .

Home and Community Services (HCS) offers a variety of specialty contracts which are provided by a licensed facility. 

Licensed Adult Family Home (AFH) -A residential home in which a person or persons provide personal care, special care, and room and board to more than one, but not more than six adults, who are not related by blood or marriage to the person or persons providing the services.

For information on Adult Family Home visit RCS Adult Family Home Providers.

Specialty Contracts for AFHs

Specialty contracts  are awarded to currently contracted AFH/AL providers who meet provider  requirements .

Meaningful Day Activity Contract - To support AFH providers to develop person-centered, proactive, and individualized strategies that promote meaningful activities designed to refocus behavior, improve health, and reduce stress and anxiety for clients who qualify for services.

To be eligible for HCS Meaningful Day contract:

  • Must have a current DSHS Medicaid contract.
  • AFH must be licensed and operating for a minimum of 12 months.
  • No unresolved citation with RCS/APS
  • No significant enforcement actions within the last year by RCS
  • Complete current required trainings

To sign up for training to become a Meaningful Day provider, email: MeaningfulDay@dshs.wa.gov

The Residential Support Waiver (RSW) is a home and community-based program  designed to provide personal care, community options, and specialized services for eligible clients with personal care and behavioral support needs.  The RSW provides a cohesive and comprehensive continuum of specialized services targeted to adults with extremely challenging behavior who meet the eligibility requirements found in WAC 388-106-0338.

The following specialty contracts are offered under the RSW:

Expanded Community Services (ECS) - settings with the ECS contract will receive personal care services, medication oversight, and contracted behavior support services. Residential providers may offer increased staff or activities to support the client in the residence. Client services and supports are available 24-hours per day by on-site staff who provide supervision and support. Is available in AFH, ALF and EARC facilities. (ECS services in Skilled Nursing Facilities are not part of RSW).

To be eligible for ECS contract:

  • AFH must have a current Medicaid license
  • Have a current AFH contract with WA state for Medicaid services for minimum of 12 months
  • No significant enforcements actions within the last year by RCS
  • Provider will be required to complete ECS Contract Training prior to receiving the contract, please see Training Requirements and Classes below.              

Specialized Behavior Support (SBS) - will receive the same services as in an ECS setting in addition to receiving assistance from additional one-to-one staffing. The SBS contract requires an additional 6-8 hours of daily staffing to provide closer supervision and behavioral support for each SBS client.

To be eligible for SBS contract:

  • AFH must have a current Medicaid license
  • Have a current AFH contract with WA state for Medicaid services for minimum of 12 months
  • No significant enforcements actions within the last year by RCS
  • Provider will be required to complete SBS Contract Training prior to receiving the contract, please see Training Requirements and Classes below. 
  • The AFH license holder must have demonstrated history working with behavioral challenging clients (this can include having a ECS contract)

Community Stability Supports (CSS) – is a service to help clients with personal care needs and behavioral challenges remain in community-based settings. CSS contracts are available in facilities with an Assisted Living Facility (ALF) license and the ALF and/or Enhanced Adult Residential Care (EARC) contracts and include personal care, medication oversight, specialized settings, and behavior support. Mental health treatment services are covered by the Managed Care Organizations.

Enhanced Services Facilities (ESFs)- An enhanced services facility provides personal care and behavior support services to a maximum of sixteen residents who have complex personal and behavioral care needs that exceed the capacity of other residential settings. Clients in an ESF setting are managed by our BSU team. (Behavioral Support Unit). ESFs only accept clients discharging from Western or Eastern State Psychiatric hospitals and clients on the State hospital waiting list.

Assisted Living Facility Services (ALFs)- A facility, for seven or more residents, with the express purpose of providing housing, basic services (assistance with personal care and room and board) and assumes the general responsibility for safety and well-being of the resident.

See Assisted Living Facilities Training Requirements | DSHS (wa.gov) and  Chapter 388-78A WAC for more information on Assisted Living Facility licensing requirements.  

Adult Residential Care Center (ARC)- Facilities offer a shared room and bathroom within a large facility, including common dinning and activity areas. Provides 3 meals/day social activities and outings. Staff available 24 hours/day.

Enhanced Adult Residential Care (EARC)- Facility offers shared room and bathroom within a large facility, provides 3 meals/day, social activities/outing, provides intermittent nursing services and staff available 24/7.

Assisted Living (AL) – Facility offers private apartments within a larger facility, emphases on privacy, independence, and personal choice, social activities, outings and 3 meals/day.

Specialized Dementia Care Facilities (SDCP) A facility dedicated solely to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. Or, a designated, separate unit/wing dedicated solely to the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia located within a larger facility. For more information on SDCP please visit the following site: Becoming an Assisted Living Facility Offering the Specialized Dementia Care Program (SDCP)

If you are interested in opening an Adult Family Home or Assisted Living Facility you can email ResourceDevelopment@dshs.wa.gov with your contact information, your local Resource Source and Development coordinator will reach out to you.

Websites for reference: