November 22, 2022

WAC (amending) 388-71-0837, -0839, -0841, -0846, -0850, -0855, -0860, -0875, -0906, -0911, -0916, -0932, -0936, -0941, -0946, -0970, -0971, -0973, -0980, -0985, -0990, -0991, -1001, -1026, -1031, -1045, -1050, -1051, -1055, -1060, -1064, -1076, -1091, -1096, -1106, -1111, -1120, -1125, -1130, 388-71 Subheading Instructor Approval, 388-71 subheading Competency Testing, 388-112A-0105, -0110, -0115, -0120, -0125, -0130, -0200, -0210, -0220, -0310, -0320, -0330, -0520, -0550, -0560, -0580, -0610, -0611, -0612, -0920, -0940, -0950, -1010, -1020, -1230, -1240, -1250, -1270, -1285, -1292, -1300, -1310, Subheading in 388-112A, Competency Testing, and Subheading numeration removed, (adding) 388-71-0958, 0961, 0962, 1067, 1068, 1069 and 388-112A-0118, (repealing)  388-71-058329, 05833, 05834, 0921, -0931, -0951, -1006, -1021, -1083, 388-112A-0240, -0350, -0480, -0530, -0540, -0585, -0620, & -0840

Training requirements for all long-term care workers are regulated by the same policies. Long-term care workers who work in home environments are regulated under chapter 388-71 WAC, while workers in assisted living facilities, enhanced services facilities, and adult family homes are regulated under chapter 388-112A WAC. As the result of many years of amendments and additions to rules that were not done in concert between the two chapters, the language between chapter 388-71 and 388-112A WAC have diverged resulting in significant differences. These differences cause unnecessary confusion. The modifications contained in this proposal will not change policy or practice, but will reconcile the differences, update language, and create more current and uniform policies for long-term care workers. Amendments fall under the following categories: Changing numbers over 10 to numbers rather than words, adding rules to chapter 388-71 WAC that are already in place in 388-112A but should be in both training sections, moving rules to new, more logical locations, clarifying language suggested by stakeholders, making wording between chapters more consistent, gender equity changes, consolidating several redundant rules into a single rule, changing “70-hour long-term care basic training” to “70-hour home care aide basic training”, correction of typographical and other unintended errors, and anticipation of a future Department of Health rule change related to training and the date of hire.

This notice is to announce a change in the previously scheduled public hearing on this proposed rulemaking, from October 25, 2022, to November 22, 2022. The previously scheduled public hearing on October 25, 2022, was not held due to a service wide network outage, and the public hearing for this proposed rulemaking is rescheduled to November 22, 2022. This notice also extends the written comment deadline to 5:00 pm on November 22, 2022. 

WAC 388-464-0001

The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-464-0001, Am I required to cooperate with quality assurance? Amendments proposed under this filing will more accurately align rule language with federal regulations related to quality control for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), specifically clarifying which programs these quality control requirements apply to.

This notice is to announce a change in the previously scheduled public hearing on this proposed rulemaking, from October 25, 2022, to November 22, 2022. The previously scheduled public hearing on October 25, 2022, was not held due to a service wide network outage, and the public hearing for this proposed rulemaking is rescheduled to November 22, 2022. This notice also extends the written comment deadline to 5:00 pm on November 22, 2022.