RCW 74.09.328 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 328
RCW 74.09.328: Use of substitute providers—When permitted—Reimbursement requirements.
Status: in_force

(1) In order to protect patients and ensure that they benefit from seamless quality care when contracted providers are absent from their practices or when there is a temporary vacancy in a position while a hospital, rural health clinic, or rural provider is recruiting to meet patient demand, hospitals, rural health clinics, and rural providers may use substitute providers to provide services. Medicaid managed care organizations must allow for the use of substitute providers and provide payment consistent with the provisions in this section. (2) Hospitals, rural health clinics, and rural providers that are contracted with a medicaid managed care organization may use substitute providers that are not contracted with a managed care organization when: (a) A contracted provider is absent for a limited period of time due to vacation, illness, disability, continuing medical education, or other short-term absence; or (b) A contracted hospital, rural health clinic, or rural provider is recruiting to fill an open position. (3) For a substitute provider providing services under subsection (2)(a) of this section, a contracted hospital, rural health clinic, or rural provider may bill and receive payment for services at the contracted rate under its contract with the managed care organization for up to sixty days. (4) To be eligible for reimbursement under this section for services provided on behalf of a contracted provider for greater than sixty days, a substitute provider must enroll in a medicaid managed care organization. Enrollment of a substitute provider in a medicaid managed care organization is effective on the later of: (a) The date the substitute provider filed an enrollment application that was subsequently approved; or (b) The date the substitute provider first began providing services at the hospital, rural health clinic, or rural provider. (5) A substitute provider who enrolls with a medicaid managed care organization may not bill under subsection (4) of this section for any services billed to the medicaid managed care organization pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. (6) Nothing in this section obligates a managed care organization to enroll any substitute provider who requests enrollment if they do not meet the organizations enrollment criteria. (7) For purposes of this section: (a) "Circumstances precluded enrollment" means that the provider has met all program requirements including state licensure during the thirty-day period before an application was submitted and no final adverse determination precluded enrollment. If a final adverse determination precluded enrollment during this thirty-day period, the contractor shall only establish an effective billing date the day after the date that the final adverse action was resolved, as long as it is not more than thirty days prior to the date on which the application was submitted. (b) "Contracted provider" means a provider who is contracted with a medicaid managed care organization. (c) "Hospital" means a facility licensed under chapter 70.41 or 71.12 RCW. (d) "Rural health clinic" means a federally designated rural health clinic. (e) "Rural provider" means physicians licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, osteopathic physicians and surgeons licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, podiatric physicians and surgeons licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW, physician assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, osteopathic physician assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, and *advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, who are located in a rural county as defined in RCW 82.14.370 . (f) "Substitute provider" includes physicians licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, osteopathic physicians and surgeons licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, podiatric physicians and surgeons licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW, physician assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, osteopathic physician assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, and *advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.
RCW 74.13.045 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 045
RCW 74.13.045: Complaint resolution process.
Status: in_force

The department shall develop and implement an informal, nonadversarial complaint resolution process to be used by clients of the department, foster parents, and other affected individuals who have complaints regarding a department policy or procedure, the application of such a policy or procedure, or the performance of an entity that has entered into a performance-based contract with the department, related to programs administered under this chapter. The process shall not apply in circumstances where the complainant has the right under Title 13 , 26 , or 74 RCW to seek resolution of the complaint through judicial review or through an adjudicative proceeding. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create substantive or procedural rights in any person. Participation in the complaint resolution process shall not entitle any person to an adjudicative proceeding under chapter 34.05 RCW or to superior court review. Participation in the process shall not affect the right of any person to seek other statutorily or constitutionally permitted remedies. The department shall develop procedures to assure that clients and foster parents are informed of the availability of the complaint resolution process and how to access it. The department shall incorporate information regarding the complaint resolution process into the training for foster parents and department caseworkers. The department shall compile complaint resolution data including the nature of the complaint and the outcome of the process.
RCW 74.09.053 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 053
RCW 74.09.053: Annual reporting requirement.
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning in November 2012, the department of social and health services, in coordination with the health care authority, shall by November 15th of each year report to the legislature: (a) The number of medical assistance recipients who: (i) Upon enrollment or recertification had reported being employed, and beginning with the 2008 report, the month and year they reported being hired; or (ii) upon enrollment or recertification had reported being the dependent of someone who was employed, and beginning with the 2008 report, the month and year they reported the employed person was hired. For recipients identified under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, the department shall report the basis for their medical assistance eligibility, including but not limited to family medical coverage, transitional medical assistance, children's medical coverage, aged coverage, or coverage for individuals with disabilities; member months; and the total cost to the state for these recipients, expressed as general fund-state and general fund-federal dollars. The information shall be reported by employer size for employers having more than fifty employees as recipients or with dependents as recipients. This information shall be provided for the preceding January and June of that year. (b) The following aggregated information: (i) The number of employees who are recipients or with dependents as recipients by private and governmental employers; (ii) the number of employees who are recipients or with dependents as recipients by employer size for employers with fifty or fewer employees, fifty-one to one hundred employees, one hundred one to one thousand employees, one thousand one to five thousand employees and more than five thousand employees; and (iii) the number of employees who are recipients or with dependents as recipients by industry type. (2) For each aggregated classification, the report will include the number of hours worked, the number of department of social and health services covered lives, and the total cost to the state for these recipients. This information shall be for each quarter of the preceding year.
RCW 74.74.060 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 74 / Section 060
RCW 74.74.060: Services for immigrants ineligible for federal services.
Status: in_force

(1) The department may administer services to immigrants who are ineligible for federal services described in RCW 74.74.050 . (2) The department may contract with external entities, including community-based organizations, to provide the services authorized under this section. In contracting with community-based organizations, the department must engage communities impacted to determine an equitable funding distribution and contracting process.
RCW 74.60.020 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 60 / Section 020
RCW 74.60.020: Hospital safety net assessment fund.
Status: in_force

(1) A dedicated fund is hereby established within the state treasury to be known as the hospital safety net assessment fund. The purpose and use of the fund shall be to receive and disburse funds, together with accrued interest, in accordance with this chapter. Moneys in the fund, including interest earned, shall not be used or disbursed for any purposes other than those specified in this chapter. Any amounts expended from the fund that are later recouped by the authority on audit or otherwise shall be returned to the fund. (a) Any unexpended balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall carry over into the following fiscal year or that fiscal year and the following fiscal year and shall be applied to reduce the amount of the assessment under RCW 74.60.050 (1)(c). (b) If the program is discontinued, any amounts remaining in the fund shall be refunded to hospitals, pro rata according to the amount paid by the hospital since July 1, 2018, subject to the limitations of federal law. (2) All assessments, interest, and penalties collected by the authority under RCW 74.60.030 and 74.60.050 shall be deposited into the fund. (3) Disbursements from the fund are conditioned upon appropriation and the continued availability of other funds sufficient to maintain aggregate payment levels to hospitals for inpatient and outpatient services covered by medicaid, including fee-for-service and managed care, at least at the levels the state paid for those services on July 1, 2022, as adjusted for current enrollment and utilization. (4) Disbursements from the fund may be made only: (a) To make payments to hospitals and managed care organizations as specified in this chapter; (b) To refund erroneous or excessive payments made by hospitals pursuant to this chapter; (c) For up to $2,000,000 per biennium for payment of administrative expenses incurred by the authority in performing the activities authorized by this chapter; (d) For $452,000,000 per biennium, to be used in lieu of state general fund payments for medicaid hospital services of which $160,000,000 per biennium shall be used for appropriation by the legislature for postacute hospital transitions, provided that if the full amount of the payments required under RCW 74.60.120 and 74.60.130 cannot be distributed in a given fiscal year, this total amount must be reduced proportionately; (e) To repay the federal government for any excess payments made to hospitals from the fund if the assessments or payment increases set forth in this chapter are deemed out of compliance with federal statutes and regulations in a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction with all appeals exhausted. In such a case, the authority may require hospitals receiving excess payments to refund the payments in question to the fund. The state in turn shall return funds to the federal government in the same proportion as the original financing. If a hospital is unable to refund payments, the state shall develop either a payment plan, or deduct moneys from future medicaid payments, or both; (f) To pay an amount sufficient, when combined with the maximum available amount of federal funds necessary to provide a one percent increase in medicaid hospital inpatient rates for medicaid prospective payment system hospitals and designated public hospitals that are eligible for quality improvement incentives under RCW 74.09.611 . Only funds collected under RCW 74.60.030 shall be used to generate payments to medicaid prospective payment hospitals. Only funds received under RCW 74.60.090 shall be used to generate payments to designated public hospitals. By May 16, 2018, and by each May 16th thereafter, the authority, in cooperation with the department of health, must verify that all medicaid prospective payment system hospitals and all designated public hospitals are in substantial compliance with the reporting requirements in RCW 43.70.052 and 70.01.040 for the prior periodLocal law enforcement agencies shall file an official missing person report and enter biographical information into the state missing person computerized network within six hours after notification of a missing child or endangered person is received under *RCW 13.32A.050 (1) (a), (c), or (d), or an endangered missing person received pursuant to the state endangered missing person advisory plan. The patrol shall collect such information as will enable it to retrieve immediately the following information about a missing child or endangered person: Name, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint classification, relevant physical descriptions, and known associates and locations. Access to the preceding information shall be available to appropriate law enforcement agencies, and to parents and legal guardians, when appropriate.0.090 shall be used to generate payments to designated public hospitals. By May 16, 2018, and by each May 16th thereafter, the authority, in cooperation with the department of health, must verify that all medicaid prospective payment system hospitals and all designated public hospitals are in substantial compliance with the reporting requirements in RCW 43.70.052 and 70.01.040 for the prior period. Safety net assessment funds shall not be used to pay quality improvement incentives to any other hospitals. For the purposes of this subsection, "substantial compliance" means, in the prior period, the hospital has submitted at least 75 percent of the required reports by the due date. The authority shall distribute quality improvement incentives to hospitals that have met these requirements beginning upon implementation of the programs authorized in chapter 430, Laws of 2023 and each January 1st thereafter; and (g) For each state fiscal year to pay: (i) Two million dollars for integrated evidence-based psychiatry residency program slots that did not receive state funding prior to 2016 at the integrated psychiatry residency program at the University of Washington; and (ii) Four million one hundred thousand dollars for family medicine residency program slots that did not receive state funding prior to 2016, as directed through the family medicine residency network at the University of Washington, for slots where residents are employed by hospitals.
RCW 74.14B.010 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 14B / Section 010
RCW 74.14B.010: Child welfare workers—Hiring and training.
Status: in_force

(1) Child welfare workers shall meet minimum standards established by the department. Comprehensive training for child welfare workers shall be completed before such child welfare workers are assigned to case-carrying responsibilities as the sole worker assigned to a particular case. Intermittent, part-time, and standby child welfare workers shall be subject to the same minimum standards and training. (2) Ongoing specialized training shall be provided for child welfare workers responsible for investigating child sexual abuse. Training participants shall have the opportunity to practice interview skills and receive feedback from instructors. (3) The department, the criminal justice training commission, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys shall design and implement statewide training that contains consistent elements for persons engaged in the interviewing of children, including law enforcement, prosecution, and child protective services. (4) The training required by this section shall: (a) Be based on research-based practices and standards; (b) minimize the trauma of all persons who are interviewed during abuse investigations; (c) provide methods of reducing the number of investigative interviews necessary whenever possible; (d) assure, to the extent possible, that investigative interviews are thorough, objective, and complete; (e) recognize needs of special populations, such as persons with developmental disabilities; (f) recognize the nature and consequences of victimization; (g) require investigative interviews to be conducted in a manner most likely to permit the interviewed persons the maximum emotional comfort under the circumstances; (h) address record retention and retrieval; (i) address documentation of investigative interviews; and (j) include self-care for child welfare workers. (5) The identification of domestic violence is critical in ensuring the safety of children in the child welfare system. It is also critical for child welfare workers to support victims of domestic violence while victims continue to care for their children, when possible, as domestic violence perpetrated against someone other than the child does not constitute negligent treatment or maltreatment in and of itself as provided in RCW 26.44.020 . For these reasons, ongoing domestic violence training and consultation shall be provided to child welfare workers, including how to use the department's practice guide to domestic violence. (6) By January 1, 2021, the department shall: (a) Develop and implement an evidence-informed curriculum for supervisors providing support to child welfare workers to better prepare candidates for effective supervisory and leadership roles within the department; (b) Develop specialized training for child welfare workers that includes simulation and coaching designed to improve clinical and analytical skills; (c) Based on the report required under *RCW 43.216.7501 (3), develop and implement training for child welfare workers that incorporates trauma-informed care and reflective supervision principles. (7) For purposes of this section, "child welfare worker" means an employee of the department whose job includes supporting or providing child welfare services as defined in RCW 74.13.020 or child protective services as defined in RCW 26.44.020 .
RCW 74.13A.085 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13A / Section 085
RCW 74.13A.085: Adoption support reconsideration program.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall establish, within funds appropriated for the purpose, a reconsideration program to provide medical and counseling services through the adoption support program for children of families who apply for services after the adoption is final. Families requesting services through the program shall provide any information requested by the department for the purpose of processing the family's application for services. (2) A child meeting the eligibility criteria for registration with the program is one who: (a) Was residing in a preadoptive placement funded by the department or in foster care funded by the department immediately prior to the adoptive placement; (b) Had a disability or behavioral health condition that existed and was documented prior to the adoption or was at high risk of future disability or behavioral health condition as a result of conditions exposed to prior to the adoption; and (c) Resides in the state of Washington with an adoptive parent who lacks the necessary financial means to care for the child's special need. (3) If a family is accepted for registration and meets the criteria in subsection (2) of this section, the department may enter into an agreement for services. Prior to entering into an agreement for services through the program, the medical needs of the child must be reviewed and approved by the department. (4) Any services provided pursuant to an agreement between a family and the department shall be met from the department's medical program. Such services shall be limited to: (a) Services provided after finalization of an agreement between a family and the department pursuant to this section; (b) Services not covered by the family's insurance or other available assistance; and (c) Services related to the eligible child's identified disability or behavioral health condition that existed prior to the adoption. (5) Any payment by the department for services provided pursuant to an agreement shall be made directly to the physician or provider of services according to the department's established procedures. (6) The total costs payable by the department for services provided pursuant to an agreement shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars per child.
RCW 74.13.242 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 242
RCW 74.13.242: Safety plan—Participants—High-potency synthetic opioids.
Status: in_force

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall establish a pilot program to include third-party safety plan participants and public health nurses in child protective services safety planning. The pilot program established in this section must: (1) Include contracts in up to four department offices for third-party safety plan participants and public health nurses to support child protective services workers in safety planning; and (2) Provide support for cases involving high-potency synthetic opioids and families who do not have natural supports to aid in safety planning.
RCW 74.14C.060 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 14C / Section 060
RCW 74.14C.060: Funds, volunteer services.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of providing preservation services the department may: (1) Solicit and use any available federal or private resources, which may include funds, in-kind resources, or volunteer services; and (2) Use any available state resources, which may include in-kind resources or volunteer services.
RCW 74.38.010 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 38 / Section 010
RCW 74.38.010: Legislative recognition—Public policy.
Status: in_force

The legislature recognizes the need for the development and expansion of alternative services and forms of care for senior citizens. Such services should be designed to restore individuals to, or maintain them at, the level of independent living they are capable of attaining. These alternative services and forms of care should be designed to both complement the present forms of institutional care and create a system whereby appropriate services can be rendered according to the care needs of an individual. The provision of service should continue until the client is able to function independently, moves to an institution, moves from the state, dies, or withdraws from the program. Therefore, it shall be the policy of this state to develop, expand, or maintain those programs which provide an alternative to institutional care when that form of care is premature, unnecessary, or inappropriate.
RCW 74.60.080 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 60 / Section 080
RCW 74.60.080: Disbursements from hospital safety net assessment fund.
Status: in_force

In each calendar year and upon satisfaction of the conditions in RCW 74.60.150 (1), and so long as none of the conditions in RCW 74.60.150 (2) occur, after deducting or reserving amounts authorized to be disbursed under RCW 74.60.020 (4) (d), (e), (f), and (g), disbursements from the fund must be made as follows: (1) $10,000,000 for payments to financially distressed hospitals in accordance with RCW 74.60.100 ; (2) For payments to small rural disproportionate share hospitals payments in accordance with RCW 74.60.110 ; (3) For payments to hospitals under RCW 74.60.120 ; (4) For payments to managed care organizations under RCW 74.60.130 for the provision of hospital services; and (5) For support of payments under RCW 74.09.611 for medicaid prospective payment hospitals and designated public hospitals.
RCW 74.13A.090 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13A / Section 090
RCW 74.13A.090: Interstate agreements for adoption of children with special needs—Findings.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds that: (1) Finding adoptive families for children for whom state assistance under *RCW 74.13.100 through 74.13.145 is desirable and assuring the protection of the interest of the children affected during the entire assistance period require special measures when the adoptive parents move to other states or are residents of another state. (2) Provision of medical and other necessary services for children, with state assistance, encounters special difficulties when the provision of services takes place in other states.
RCW 74.13.338 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 338
RCW 74.13.338: Driver's license support for foster youth.
Status: in_force

(1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall contract with a private nonprofit organization that agrees to work collaboratively with independent living providers and the department and is selected after a competitive application process to provide driver's license support for foster youth, including youth receiving extended foster care services. (2) The nonprofit organization selected pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall provide support for foster youth ages fifteen through twenty-one, including youth receiving extended foster care services, in navigating the driver's licensing process. This support must include: (a) Reimbursement of fees necessary for a foster youth to obtain a driver's instruction permit, an intermediate license, and a standard or enhanced driver's license, including any required examination fees, as described in chapter 46.20 RCW; (b) Reimbursement of fees required for a foster youth to complete a driver training education course, if the foster youth is under the age of eighteen, as outlined in chapter 46.82 or 28A.220 RCW; (c) Reimbursement of the increase in motor vehicle liability insurance costs incurred by foster parents, relative placements, or other foster placements adding a foster youth to his or her motor vehicle liability insurance policy, with a preference on reimbursements for those foster youth who practice safe driving and avoid moving violations and at-fault collisions. (3) By December 1, 2019, the nonprofit organization selected pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall submit a report to the department and the appropriate committees of the legislature, including the transportation committees of the legislature, documenting the number of foster youth served by the program; the average cost per youth served; the extent to which foster youth report any negative outcomes of the program, including a foster parent's inappropriate use of a foster youth's driving authorization; and recommendations for future policy or statutory or funding changes necessary to more effectively allow foster youth to obtain drivers' licenses and motor vehicle liability insurance.
RCW 74.39A.270 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 270
RCW 74.39A.270: Individual providers contracted with the department—Collective bargaining—Circumstances in which individual providers are considered public employees—Exceptions—Limitations.
Status: in_force

The following provisions apply only to individual providers who are contracted with the department to provide personal care or respite care services: (1) Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the governor is the public employer, as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW, of individual providers, who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees as defined in chapter 41.56 RCW. To accommodate the role of the state as payor for the community-based services provided under this chapter and to ensure coordination with state employee collective bargaining under chapter 41.80 RCW and the coordination necessary to implement RCW 74.39A.300 , the public employer shall be represented for bargaining purposes by the governor or the governor's designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW. The department shall solicit input from the developmental disabilities council, the governor's committee on disability issues and employment, the state council on aging, and other consumer advocacy organizations to obtain informed input from consumers on their interests, including impacts on consumer choice, for all issues proposed for collective bargaining under subsections (5) and (7) of this section. (2) Chapter 41.56 RCW governs the collective bargaining relationship between the governor and individual providers, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter and except as follows: (a) The only unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining under *RCW 41.56.211 is a statewide unit of all individual providers; (b) The showing of interest required to request an election under *RCW 41.56.211 is ten percent of the unit, and any intervener seeking to appear on the ballot must make the same showing of interest; (c) The mediation and interest arbitration provisions of *RCW 41.56.501 through 41.56.535 and 41.56.540 apply, except that: (i) With respect to commencement of negotiations between the governor and the bargaining representative of individual providers, negotiations shall be commenced by May 1st of any year prior to the year in which an existing collective bargaining agreement expires; and (ii) The decision of the arbitrator is not binding on the legislature and, if the legislature does not approve the request for funds necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefit provisions of the arbitrated collective bargaining agreement, is not binding on the authority or the state; (d) Individual providers do not have the right to strike; and (e) Individual providers who are related to, or family members of, consumers or prospective consumers are not, for that reason, exempt from this chapter or chapter 41.56 RCW. (3) Individual providers who are public employees solely for the purposes of collective bargaining under subsection (1) of this section are not, for that reason, employees of the state, its political subdivisions, or an area agency on aging for any purpose. Chapter 41.56 RCW applies only to the governance of the collective bargaining relationship between the employer and individual providers as provided in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. (4) Consumers and prospective consumers retain the right to select, hire, supervise the work of, and terminate any individual provider providing services to them. Consumers may elect to receive long-term in-home care services from individual providers who are not referred to them by the department or a department contractor. (5) Except as expressly limited in this section and RCW 74.39A.300 , the wages, hours, and working conditions of individual providers are determined solely through collective bargaining as provided in this chapter. Except as described in RCW 74.39A.525 , no agency or department of the state may establish policies or rules governing the wages or hours of individual providers. (6) Nothing in this section modifies: (a) The department's authority to deny individual provider contracts to individuals who will not be able to meet the needs of a consumer or to terminate contracts of individual providers who are not adequately meeting the needs of a particular consumer; or (b) The consumer's right to: (i) Assign hours to one or more individual providers consistent with the rules adopted under this chapter and his or her plan of care; and (ii) select, hire, terminate, supervise the work of, and determine the conditions of employment for each individual provider providing services to the consumer under this chapter. (7) At the request of the exclusive bargaining representative, the governor or the governor's designee appointed under chapter 41.80 RCW shall engage in collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030 (4), with the exclusive bargaining representative over the following subjects: (a) Employer contributions to the training partnership for the costs of: (i) Meeting all training and peer mentoring requirements under this chapter; and (ii) other training intended to promote the career development of individual providers; and (b) How the department's core responsibility affects hours of work for individual providers; this subsection shall not be interpreted to require collective bargaining over an individual consumer's plan of care. (8) The state, the department, the area agencies on aging, or their contractors under this chapter may not be held vicariously or jointly liable for the action or inaction of any individual provider or prospective individual provider, whether or not that individual provider or prospective individual provider was included on the referral registry or referred to a consumer or prospective consumer. The existence of a collective bargaining agreement, the placement of an individual provider on the referral registry, or the development or approval of a plan of care for a consumer who chooses to use the services of an individual provider and the provision of case management services to that consumer, by the department or an area agency on aging, does not constitute a special relationship with the consumer. (9) Nothing in this section affects the state's responsibility with respect to unemployment insurance for individual providers. However, individual providers are not to be considered, as a result of the state assuming this responsibility, employees of the state.
RCW 74.13.039 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 039
RCW 74.13.039: Runaway hotline.
Status: in_force

The department shall maintain a toll-free hotline to assist parents of runaway children. The hotline shall provide parents with a complete description of their rights when dealing with their runaway child.
RCW 74.09.840 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 840
RCW 74.09.840: Prior authorization.
Status: in_force

(1) Beginning January 1, 2024, the authority shall require each managed care organization to comply with the following standards related to prior authorization for health care services and prescription drugs: (a) The managed care organization shall meet the following time frames for prior authorization determinations and notifications to a participating provider or facility that submits the prior authorization request through an electronic prior authorization process, as designated by each managed care organization: (i) For electronic standard prior authorization requests, the managed care organization shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within three calendar days, excluding holidays, of submission of an electronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the managed care organization to make a decision, the managed care organization shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the electronic prior authorization request. (ii) For electronic expedited prior authorization requests, the managed care organization shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within one calendar day of submission of an electronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the managed care organization to make a decision, the managed care organization shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the electronic prior authorization request. (b) The managed care organization shall meet the following time frames for prior authorization determinations and notifications to a participating provider or facility that submits the prior authorization request through a process other than an electronic prior authorization process described in subsection (2) of this section: (i) For nonelectronic standard prior authorization requests, the managed care organization shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within five calendar days of submission of a nonelectronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the managed care organization to make a decision, the managed care organization shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within five calendar days of submission of the nonelectronic prior authorization request. (ii) For nonelectronic expedited prior authorization requests, the managed care organization shall make a decision and notify the provider or facility of the results of the decision within two calendar days of submission of a nonelectronic prior authorization request by the provider or facility that contains the necessary information to make a determination. If insufficient information has been provided to the managed care organization to make a decision, the managed care organization shall request any additional information from the provider or facility within one calendar day of submission of the nonelectronic prior authorization request. (c) In any instance in which a managed care organization has determined that a provider or facility has not provided sufficient information for making a determination under (a) and (b) of this subsection, a managed care organization may establish a specific reasonable time frame for submission of the additional information. This time frame must be communicated to the provider and enrollee with a managed care organization's request for additional information. (d) The prior authorization requirements of the managed care organization must be described in detail and written in easily understandable language. The managed care organization shall make its most current prior authorization requirements and restrictions, including the written clinical review criteria, available to providers and facilities in an electronic format upon request. The prior authorization requirements must be based on peer-reviewed clinical review criteria. The clinical review criteria must be evidence-based criteria and must accommodate new and emerging information related to the appropriateness of clinical criteria with respect to black and indigenous people, other people of color, gender, and underserved populations. The clinical review criteria must be evaluated and updated, if necessary, at least annually. (2)(a) Each managed care organization shall establish and maintain a prior authorization application programming interface that is consistent with final rules issued by the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services and published in the federal register, and that indicates that a prior authorization denial or authorization of a service less intensive than that included in the original request is an adverse benefit determination and is subject to the managed care organization's grievance and appeal process under RCW 48.43.535 . (b) Each managed care organization shall establish and maintain an interoperable electronic process or application programming interface that automates the process for in-network providers to determine whether a prior authorization is required for a covered prescription drug. The interoperable electronic process or application programming interface must support the exchange of prior authorization requests and determinations for prescription drugs, including information on covered alternative prescription drugs, beginning January 1, 2027, and must: (i) Allow providers to identify prior authorization information and documentation requirements; (ii) Facilitate the exchange of prior authorization requests and determinations from its electronic health records or practice management system; and (iii) Indicate that a prior authorization denial or authorization of a drug other than the one included in the original prior authorization request is an adverse benefit determination and is subject to the managed care organization's grievance and appeal process under RCW 48.43.535 . (c) Regardless of whether federal rules related to standards for using an application programming interface to communicate prior authorization status to providers are revoked, delayed, suspended, or not finalized after February 8, 2024, the requirements of (a) of this subsection shall be enforced beginning January 1, 2027. (3) Nothing in this section applies to prior authorization determinations made pursuant to RCW 71.24.618 or 74.09.490 . (4) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Expedited prior authorization request" means a request by a provider or facility for approval of a health care service or prescription drug where: (i) The passage of time: (A) Could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee; (B) Could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's ability to regain maximum function; or (C) In the opinion of a provider or facility with knowledge of the enrollee's medical condition, would subject the enrollee to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the health care service or prescription drug that is the subject of the request; or (ii) The enrollee is undergoing a current course of treatment using a nonformulary drug. (b) "Standard prior authorization request" means a request by a provider or facility for approval of a health care service or prescription drug where the request is made in advance of the enrollee obtaining a health care service or prescription drug that is not required to be expedited.
RCW 74.25.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 25 / Section 040
RCW 74.25.040: Volunteer work—Child care or other work—Training.
Status: in_force

(1) Recipients of temporary assistance for needy families who are employed or participating in a work activity under *section 312 of this act may volunteer or work in a licensed child care facility. Licensed child care facilities participating in this effort shall provide care for the recipient's children and provide for the development of positive child care skills. (2) The department shall train two hundred fifty recipients of temporary assistance for needy families to become family child care providers or child care center teachers. The department shall offer the training in rural and urban communities. The department shall adopt rules to implement the child care training program in this section. (3) Recipients trained under this section shall provide child care services to clients of the department for two years following the completion of their child care training.
RCW 74.15.020 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 15 / Section 020
RCW 74.15.020: Definitions.
Status: in_force

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter and RCW 74.13.031 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Agency" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or facility which receives children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for control, care, or maintenance outside their own homes, or which places, arranges the placement of, or assists in the placement of children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for foster care or placement of children for adoption, and shall include the following irrespective of whether there is compensation to the agency or to the children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities for services rendered: (a) "Child-placing agency" means an agency which places a child or children for temporary care, continued care, or for adoption; (b) "Community facility" means a group care facility operated for the care of juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185 . A county detention facility that houses juveniles committed to the department under RCW 13.40.185 pursuant to a contract with the department is not a community facility; (c) "Crisis residential center" means an agency which is a temporary protective residential facility operated to perform the duties specified in chapter 13.32A RCW, in the manner provided in RCW 43.185C.295 through 43.185C.310 ; (d) "Emergency respite center" is an agency that may be commonly known as a crisis nursery, that provides emergency and crisis care for up to seventy-two hours to children who have been admitted by their parents or guardians to prevent abuse or neglect. Emergency respite centers may operate for up to twenty-four hours a day, and for up to seven days a week. Emergency respite centers may provide care for children ages birth through seventeen, and for persons eighteen through twenty with developmental disabilities who are admitted with a sibling or siblings through age seventeen. Emergency respite centers may not substitute for crisis residential centers or HOPE centers, or any other services defined under this section, and may not substitute for services which are required under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW; (e) "Foster family home" means an agency which regularly provides care on a twenty-four hour basis to one or more children, expectant mothers, or persons with developmental disabilities in the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care and supervision the child, expectant mother, or person with a developmental disability is placed; (f) "Group-care facility" means an agency, other than a foster family home, which is maintained and operated for the care of a group of children on a twenty-four hour basis. "Group care facility" includes but is not limited to: (i) Qualified residential treatment programs as defined in RCW 13.34.030 ; (ii) Facilities specializing in providing prenatal, postpartum, or parenting supports for youth; and (iii) Facilities providing high quality residential care and supportive services to children who are, or who are at risk of becoming, victims of sex trafficking; (g) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary to provide temporary residential placement and other services to street youth. A street youth may remain in a HOPE center for thirty days while services are arranged and permanent placement is coordinated. No street youth may stay longer than thirty days unless approved by the department and any additional days approved by the department must be based on the unavailability of a long-term placement option. A street youth whose parent wants him or her returned to home may remain in a HOPE center until his or her parent arranges return of the youth, not longer. All other street youth must have court approval under chapter 13.34 or 13.32A RCW to remain in a HOPE center up to thirty days; (h) "Maternity service" means an agency which provides or arranges for care or services to expectant mothers, before or during confinement, or which provides care as needed to mothers and their infants after confinement; (i) "Resource and assessment center" means an agency that provides short-term emergency and crisis care for a period up to seventy-two hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays to children who have been removed from their parent's or guardian's care by child protective services or law enforcement; (j) "Responsible living skills program" means an agency licensed by the secretary that provides residential and transitional living services to persons ages sixteen to eighteen who are dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW and who have been unable to live in his or her legally authorized residence and, as a result, the minor lived outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for occupancy by the minor. Dependent minors ages fourteen and fifteen may be eligible if no other placement alternative is available and the department approves the placement; (k) "Service provider" means the entity that operates a community facility. (2) "Agency" shall not include the following: (a) Persons related to the child, expectant mother, or person with developmental disability in the following ways: (i) Any blood relative, including those of half-blood, and including first cousins, second cousins, nephews or nieces, and persons of preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand, great, or great-great; (ii) Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister; (iii) A person who legally adopts a child or the child's parent as well as the natural and other legally adopted children of such persons, and other relatives of the adoptive parents in accordance with state law; (iv) Spouses of any persons named in (a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this subsection (2), even after the marriage is terminated; (v) Relatives, as named in (a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this subsection (2), of any half sibling of the child; or (vi) Extended family members, as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child's tribe or, in the absence of such law or custom, a person who has reached the age of eighteen and who is the Indian child's grandparent, aunt or uncle, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, niece or nephew, first or second cousin, or stepparent who provides care in the family abode on a twenty-four-hour basis to an Indian child as defined in 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903(4); (b) Persons who are legal guardians of the child, expectant mother, or persons with developmental disabilities; (c) Persons who care for a neighbor's or friend's child or children, with or without compensation, where the parent and person providing care on a twenty-four-hour basis have agreed to the placement in writing and the state is not providing any payment for the care; (d) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that provides placement or similar services to exchange students or international student exchange visitors or persons who have the care of an exchange student in their home; (e) A person, partnership, corporation, or other entity that provides placement or similar services to international children who have entered the country by obtaining visas that meet the criteria for medical care as established by the United States citizenship and immigration services, or persons who have the care of such an international child in their home; (f) Schools, including boarding schools, which are engaged primarily in education, operate on a definite school year schedule, follow a stated academic curriculum, accept only school-age children and do not accept custody of children; (g) Hospitals licensed pursuant to chapter 70.41 RCW when performing functions defined in chapter 70.41 RCW, nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW and assisted living facilities licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW; (h) Licensed physicians or lawyers; (i) Facilities approved and certified under chapter 71A.22 RCW; (j) Any agency having been in operation in this state ten years prior to June 8, 1967, and not seeking or accepting moneys or assistance from any state or federal agency, and is supported in part by an endowment or trust fund; (k) Persons who have a child in their home for purposes of adoption, if the child was placed in such home by a licensed child-placing agency, an authorized public or tribal agency or court or if a replacement report has been filed under chapter 26.33 RCW and the placement has been approved by the court; (l) An agency operated by any unit of local, state, or federal government or an agency licensed by an Indian tribe pursuant to RCW 74.15.190 ; (m) A maximum or medium security program for juvenile offenders operated by or under contract with the department; (n) An agency located on a federal military reservation, except where the military authorities request that such agency be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter; (o)(i) A host home program, and host home, operated by a tax exempt organization for youth not in the care of or receiving services from the department except as provided in subsection (2)(o)(iii) of this section [(o)(iii) of this subsection], if that program: (A) Recruits and screens potential homes in the program, including performing background checks on individuals over the age of eighteen residing in the home through the Washington state patrol or equivalent law enforcement agency and performing physical inspections of the home; (B) screens and provides case management services to youth in the program; (C) obtains a notarized permission slip or limited power of attorney from the parent or legal guardian of the youth authorizing the youth to participate in the program and the authorization is updated every six months when a youth remains in a host home longer than six months, unless there is a compelling reason to not contact the parent or guardian; (D) obtains insurance for the program through an insurance provider authorized under Title 48 RCW; (E) provides mandatory reporter and confidentiality training; and (F) registers with the secretary of state under RCW 74.15.315 . (ii) If a host home program serves a child without parental authorization who is seeking or receiving protected health care services, the host home program must: (A) Report to the department within 72 hours of the youth's participation in the program and following this report the department shall make a good faith attempt to notify the parent of this report and offer services designed to resolve the conflict and accomplish a reunification of the family; (B) Report to the department the youth's participation in the host home program at least once every month when the youth remains in the host home longer than one month; and (C) Provide case management outside of the host home and away from any individuals residing in the home at least once per month. (iii) A host home program and host home that meets the other requirements of subsection (2)(o) of this section [this subsection (2)(o)] may provide care for a youth who is receiving services from the department if the youth is: (A) Not subject to a dependency proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW; and (B) Seeking or receiving protected health care services. (iv) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (A) "Host home" means a private home that volunteers to host youth in need of temporary placement that is associated with a host home program. (B) "Host home program" is a program that provides support to individual host homes and meets the requirements of (o)(i) of this subsection. (C) "Compelling reason" means the youth is in the host home or seeking placement in a host home while seeking or receiving protected health care services. (D) "Protected health care services" means gender-affirming treatment as defined in RCW 74.09.675 and reproductive health care services as defined in RCW 74.09.875 . (v) Any host home program that receives local, state, or government funding shall report the following information to the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs annually by December 1st of each year: The number of children the program served, why the child was placed with a host home, and where the child went after leaving the host home, including but not limited to returning to the parents, running away, reaching the age of majority, or becoming a dependent of the state; (p) Receiving centers as defined in RCW 7.68.380 . (3) "Department" means the department of children, youth, and families. (4) "Juvenile" means a person under the age of twenty-one who has been sentenced to a term of confinement under the supervision of the department under RCW 13.40.185 . (5) "Performance-based contracts" or "contracting" means the structuring of all aspects of the procurement of services around the purpose of the work to be performed and the desired results with the contract requirements set forth in clear, specific, and objective terms with measurable outcomes. Contracts may also include provisions that link the performance of the contractor to the level and timing of the reimbursement. (6) "Probationary license" means a license issued as a disciplinary measure to an agency that has previously been issued a full license but is out of compliance with licensing standards. (7) "Requirement" means any rule, regulation, or standard of care to be maintained by an agency. (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department. (9) "Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent or at his or her legally authorized residence. (10) "Transitional living services" means at a minimum, to the extent funds are available, the following: (a) Educational services, including basic literacy and computational skills training, either in local alternative or public high schools or in a high school equivalency program that leads to obtaining a high school equivalency degree; (b) Assistance and counseling related to obtaining vocational training or higher education, job readiness, job search assistance, and placement programs; (c) Counseling and instruction in life skills such as money management, home management, consumer skills, parenting, health care, access to community resources, and transportation and housing options; (d) Individual and group counseling; and (e) Establishing networks with federal agencies and state and local organizations such as the United States department of labor, employment and training administration programs including the workforce innovation and opportunity act which administers private industry councils and the job corps; vocational rehabilitation; and volunteer programs.
RCW 74.13.505 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 505
RCW 74.13.505: Disclosure of child welfare records—Information to be disclosed.
Status: in_force

For purposes of RCW 74.13.500 , the following information shall be disclosable: (1) The name of the abused or neglected child; (2) The determination made by the department of the referrals, if any, for abuse or neglect; (3) Identification of child protective or other services provided or actions, if any, taken regarding the child named in the report and his or her family as a result of any such report or reports. These records include but are not limited to administrative reports of fatality, fatality review reports, case files, inspection reports, and reports relating to social work practice issues; and (4) Any actions taken by the department in response to reports of abuse or neglect of the child.
RCW 74.09.800 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 800
RCW 74.09.800: Maternity care access program established.
Status: in_force

The authority shall, consistent with the state budget act, develop a maternity care access program designed to ensure healthy birth outcomes as follows: (1) Provide maternity care services to low-income pregnant women and health care services to children in poverty to the maximum extent allowable under the medical assistance program, Title XIX of the federal social security act; (2) Provide maternity care services to low-income women who are not eligible to receive such services under the medical assistance program, Title XIX of the federal social security act; (3) Have the following procedures in place to improve access to maternity care services and eligibility determinations for pregnant women applying for maternity care services under the medical assistance program, Title XIX of the federal social security act: (a) Use of a shortened and simplified application form; (b) Outstationing authority staff to make eligibility determinations; (c) Establishing local plans at the county and regional level, coordinated by the authority; and (d) Conducting an interview for the purpose of determining medical assistance eligibility within five working days of the date of an application by a pregnant woman and making an eligibility determination within fifteen working days of the date of application by a pregnant woman; (4) Establish a maternity care case management system that shall assist at-risk eligible persons with obtaining medical assistance benefits and receiving maternity care services, including transportation and child care services; (5) Within available resources, establish appropriate reimbursement levels for maternity care providers; (6) Implement a broad-based public education program that stresses the importance of obtaining maternity care early during pregnancy; (7) Refer persons eligible for maternity care services under the program established by this section to persons, agencies, or organizations with maternity care service practices that primarily emphasize healthy birth outcomes; (8) Provide family planning services including information about the synthetic progestin capsule implant form of contraception, for twelve months immediately following a pregnancy to women who were eligible for medical assistance under the maternity care access program during that pregnancy or who were eligible only for emergency labor and delivery services during that pregnancy; and (9) Within available resources, provide family planning services to women who meet the financial eligibility requirements for services under subsections (1) and (2) of this section.
RCW 74.13.029 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 029
RCW 74.13.029: Dependency established—Social worker's duty to provide document containing information.
Status: in_force

Once a dependency is established under chapter 13.34 RCW, the department employee assigned to the case shall provide the dependent child age twelve years and older with a document containing the information described in *RCW 74.13.031 (18). The department employee shall explain the contents of the document to the child and direct the child to the department's website for further information. The department employee shall document, in the electronic data system, that this requirement was met.
RCW 74.08A.380 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 08A / Section 380
RCW 74.08A.380: Teen parents—Education requirements.
Status: in_force

All applicants under the age of eighteen years who are approved for assistance and, within one hundred eighty days after the date of federal certification of the Washington temporary assistance for needy families program, all unmarried minor parents or pregnant minor applicants shall, as a condition of receiving benefits, actively progress toward the completion of a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate as provided in RCW 28B.50.536 .
RCW 74.67.005 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 67 / Section 005
RCW 74.67.005: Finding—Intent.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds that medicaid provider fraud and the abuse and neglect of persons in nursing facilities, adult family homes, and long-term care services present a serious risk of harm to the people of the state of Washington in general and to vulnerable adults in particular. The legislature intends with this chapter to enable the medicaid fraud control unit within the office of the attorney general to achieve its limited but vital mission to detect, deter, and prosecute the specialized areas of medicaid fraud, abuse, and neglect in Washington's medicaid system. This jurisdiction will also facilitate the medicaid fraud control unit's capacity to fulfill its investigative and prosecutorial obligations under the federal grant, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396b(q), to ensure that the federal grant funding requirements for Washington's medicaid program are met. Failure to meet these federal program integrity standards could jeopardize the federal funding for Washington's medicaid program. Furthermore, the legislature intends by this chapter that the medicaid fraud control unit will fully coordinate its efforts with county and local prosecutors and law enforcement to maximize effectiveness and promote efficiency.
RCW 74.15.325 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 15 / Section 325
RCW 74.15.325: Residential private schools—Licensing—Rule making.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The department shall license the living accommodations provided by residential private schools as defined in RCW 74.15.020 . Accommodations include all areas and school operations that are intended to allow enrolled students to eat, sleep, bathe, recreate, or otherwise reside. (b) A residential private school is exempt from the licensing requirements of (a) of this subsection if: (i) The residential private school is accredited by an accrediting body approved by the state board of education in accordance with accreditation standards and procedures established by the state board of education under RCW 28A.305.130 ; and (ii) The accreditation covers the student living accommodations including examination of comparable criteria as listed in subsection (2) of this section as determined by the state board of education in consultation with the department. (2) The department shall engage in negotiated rule making pursuant to RCW 34.05.310 (2)(a) with the state board of education and other affected interests to adopt minimum health and safety rules to implement this section. Rules must address the needs of children and youth during noninstructional hours, including but not limited to space allotted to each child or youth for sleeping, developmentally appropriate privacy requirements, personal storage, nutritional needs, cleanliness and hygiene of living quarters, social-emotional well-being during noninstructional hours, health and wellness accommodations, compliance with the Americans with disabilities act, and physical safety.
RCW 74.04.657 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 04 / Section 657
RCW 74.04.657: Veterans' benefits—Assessment for eligibility.
Status: in_force

During the application process for benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.220 , the department shall inquire of each applicant whether he or she has ever served in the United States military service. If the applicant answers in the affirmative, the department shall confer with a veterans benefit specialist with the Washington state department of veterans affairs or a contracted veterans service officer in the community to determine whether the applicant is eligible for any benefits or programs offered to veterans by either the state or the federal government.
RCW 74.13.025 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 025
RCW 74.13.025: Counties may administer and provide services under RCW 13.32A.197—Plan for at-risk youth required.
Status: in_force

Any county or group of counties may make application to the department in the manner and form prescribed by the department to administer and provide the services established under RCW 13.32A.197 . Any such application must include a plan or plans for providing such services to at-risk youth.
RCW 74.39A.005 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 005
RCW 74.39A.005: Findings.
Status: in_force

The legislature finds that the aging of the population and advanced medical technology have resulted in a growing number of persons who require assistance. The primary resource for long-term care continues to be family and friends. However, these traditional caregivers are increasingly employed outside the home. There is a growing demand for improvement and expansion of home and community-based long-term care services to support and complement the services provided by these informal caregivers. The legislature further finds that the public interest would best be served by a broad array of long-term care services that support persons who need such services at home or in the community whenever practicable and that promote individual autonomy, dignity, and choice. The legislature finds that as other long-term care options become more available, the relative need for nursing home beds is likely to decline. The legislature recognizes, however, that nursing home care will continue to be a critical part of the state's long-term care options, and that such services should promote individual dignity, autonomy, and a homelike environment. The legislature finds that many recipients of in-home services are vulnerable and their health and well-being are dependent on their caregivers. The quality, skills, and knowledge of their caregivers are often the key to good care. The legislature finds that the need for well-trained caregivers is growing as the state's population ages and clients' needs increase. The legislature intends that current training standards be enhanced.
RCW 74.09.835 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 835
RCW 74.09.835: Postdelivery and transitional care program—Contracting—Funding.
Status: in_force

(1) By no later than January 1, 2026, the authority shall create a postdelivery and transitional care program that allows for extended postdelivery hospital care for people with a substance use disorder at the time of delivery. The authority shall: (a) Allow for up to five additional days of hospitalization stay for the birth parent; (b) Provide the birth parent access to integrated care and medical services including, but not limited to, access to clinical health, medication management, behavioral health, addiction medicine, specialty consultations, and psychiatric providers; (c) Provide the birth parent access to social work support which includes coordination with the department of children, youth, and families to develop a plan for safe care; (d) Allow dedicated time for health professionals to assist in facilitating early bonding between the birth parent and infant by helping the birth parent recognize and respond to their infant's cues; and (e) Establish provider requirements and pay only those qualified providers for the services provided through the program. (2) In order to provide technical assistance to participating hospitals regarding the postdelivery and transitional care program, the authority shall contract with the Washington state chapter of a national organization that provides a physician-led professional community for those who prevent, treat, and promote remission and recovery from the disease of addiction and whose comprehensive set of guidelines for determining placement, continued stay, and transfer or discharge of enrollees with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders have been incorporated into medicaid managed care contracts. (3) In administering the program, the authority shall seek any available federal financial participation under the medical assistance program, as codified at Title XIX of the federal social security act, the state children's health insurance program, as codified at Title XXI of the federal social security act, the federal family first prevention services act, and any other federal funding sources that are now available or may become available.
RCW 74.39A.261 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 261
RCW 74.39A.261: Background checks on individual providers—Department duties.
Status: in_force

If the department contracts with individual providers, the department must perform background checks for individual providers and prospective individual providers under RCW 74.39A.056 .
RCW 74.39A.060 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 060
RCW 74.39A.060: Toll-free telephone number for complaints—Investigation and referral—Rules—Discrimination or retaliation prohibited.
Status: in_force

(1) The aging and long-term support administration of the department shall establish and maintain a toll-free telephone number for receiving complaints regarding facilities and community residential services businesses as defined in this chapter. (2) Each facility shall post in a place and manner clearly visible to residents and visitors the department's toll-free complaint telephone number and the toll-free number and program description of the long-term care ombuds as required by RCW 43.190.050 . (3) The aging and long-term support administration shall investigate complaints it receives about facilities and community residential services businesses unless the department determines that: (a) The complaint is intended to willfully harass the provider or the provider's employee; or (b) there is no reasonable basis for investigation; or (c) corrective action has been taken as determined by the ombuds or the department. (4) The aging and long-term support administration shall refer complaints to appropriate state agencies, law enforcement agencies, the attorney general, the long-term care ombuds, or other entities if the department lacks authority to investigate or if its investigation reveals that a follow-up referral to one or more of these entities is appropriate. (5) The department shall adopt rules that include the following complaint investigation protocols: (a) Upon receipt of a complaint, the department shall make a preliminary review of the complaint, assess the severity of the complaint, and assign an appropriate response time. Complaints involving imminent danger to the health, safety, or well-being of a resident must be responded to within two days. When appropriate, the department shall make an on-site investigation within a reasonable time after receipt of the complaint or otherwise ensure that complaints are responded to. (b) The complainant must be: Promptly contacted by the department, unless anonymous or unavailable despite several attempts by the department, and informed of the right to discuss the alleged violations with the inspector and to provide other information the complainant believes will assist the inspector; informed of the department's course of action; and informed of the right to receive a written copy of the investigation report. (c) In conducting the investigation, the department shall interview the complainant, unless anonymous, and shall use its best efforts to interview the vulnerable adult or adults allegedly harmed, and, consistent with the protection of the vulnerable adult shall interview facility staff, any available independent sources of relevant information, including if appropriate the family members of the vulnerable adult. (d) Substantiated complaints involving harm to a resident, if an applicable law or rule has been violated, shall be subject to one or more of the actions provided in RCW 74.39A.080 or 70.128.160 . Whenever appropriate, the department shall also give consultation and technical assistance to the provider. (e) After a department finding of a violation for which a stop placement has been imposed, the department shall make an on-site revisit of the provider within fifteen working days from the request for revisit, to ensure correction of the violation. For violations that are serious or recurring or uncorrected following a previous citation, and create actual or threatened harm to one or more residents' well-being, including violations of residents' rights, the department shall make an on-site revisit as soon as appropriate to ensure correction of the violation. Verification of correction of all other violations may be made by either a department on-site revisit or by written or photographic documentation found by the department to be credible. This subsection does not prevent the department from enforcing license or contract suspensions or revocations. Nothing in this subsection shall interfere with or diminish the department's authority and duty to ensure that the provider adequately cares for residents, including to make departmental on-site revisits as needed to ensure that the provider protects residents and to enforce compliance with this chapter. (f) Substantiated complaints of neglect, abuse, exploitation, or abandonment of residents, or suspected criminal violations, shall also be referred by the department to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, the attorney general, and appropriate professional disciplining authority. (6) The department may provide the substance of the complaint to the licensee or contractor before the completion of the investigation by the department unless such disclosure would reveal the identity of a complainant, witness, or resident who chooses to remain anonymous. Neither the substance of the complaint provided to the licensee or contractor nor any copy of the complaint or related report published, released, or made otherwise available shall disclose, or reasonably lead to the disclosure of, the name, title, or identity of any complainant, or other person mentioned in the complaint, except that the name of the provider and the name or names of any officer, employee, or agent of the department conducting the investigation shall be disclosed after the investigation has been closed and the complaint has been substantiated. The department may disclose the identity of the complainant if such disclosure is requested in writing by the complainant. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to interfere with the obligation of the long-term care ombuds program or department staff to monitor the department's licensing, contract, and complaint investigation files for long-term care facilities. (7) The resident has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and reprisal from a facility in exercising his or her rights, including the right to voice grievances about treatment furnished or not furnished. A facility that provides long-term care services shall not discriminate or retaliate in any manner against a resident, employee, or any other person on the basis or for the reason that such resident or any other person made a complaint to the department, the attorney general, law enforcement agencies, or the long-term care ombuds, provided information, or otherwise cooperated with the investigation of such a complaint. Any attempt to discharge a resident against the resident's wishes, or any type of retaliatory treatment of a resident by whom or upon whose behalf a complaint substantiated by the department has been made to the department, the attorney general, law enforcement agencies, or the long-term care ombuds, within one year of the filing of the complaint, raises a rebuttable presumption that such action was in retaliation for the filing of the complaint. "Retaliatory treatment" means, but is not limited to, monitoring a resident's phone, mail, or visits; involuntary seclusion or isolation; transferring a resident to a different room unless requested or based upon legitimate management reasons; withholding or threatening to withhold food or treatment unless authorized by a terminally ill resident or his or her representative pursuant to law; or persistently delaying responses to a resident's request for service or assistance. A facility that provides long-term care services shall not willfully interfere with the performance of official duties by a long-term care ombuds. The department shall sanction and may impose a civil penalty of not more than three thousand dollars for a violation of this subsection.
RCW 74.04.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 04 / Section 040
RCW 74.04.040: Public assistance a joint federal, state, and county function—Notice required.
Status: in_force

The care, support, and relief of needy persons is hereby declared to be a joint federal, state, and county function. County offices are charged with the responsibility for the administration of public assistance within the respective county or counties or parts thereof as local offices of the department as prescribed by the rules and regulations of the department. Whenever a city or town establishes a program or policy for the care, support, and relief of needy persons it shall provide notice of the program or policy to the county or counties within which the city or town is located.
RCW 74.29.037 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 29 / Section 037
RCW 74.29.037: Cooperative agreements with state and local agencies.
Status: in_force

The department may establish cooperative agreements with other state and local agencies.
RCW 74.14B.902 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 14B / Section 902
RCW 74.14B.902: Effective date—1987 c 503.
Status: in_force

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1987.
RCW 74.13A.010 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13A / Section 010
RCW 74.13A.010: Prospective adoptive parent's fee for cost of adoption services.
Status: in_force

When a child proposed for adoption is placed with a prospective adoptive parent the department may charge such parent a fee in payment or part payment of such adoptive parent's part of the cost of the adoption services rendered and to be rendered by the department. In charging such fees the department shall treat a husband and wife as a single prospective adoptive parent. Each such fee shall be fixed according to a sliding scale based on the ability to pay of the prospective adoptive parent or parents. Such fee scale shall be annually fixed by the secretary after considering the recommendations of the committee designated by the secretary to advise him or her on child welfare and pursuant to the regulations to be issued by the secretary in accordance with the provisions of Title 34 RCW. The secretary may waive, defer, or provide for payment in installments without interest of, any such fee whenever in his or her judgment payment or immediate payment would cause economic hardship to such adoptive parent or parents. Nothing in this section shall require the payment of a fee to the state of Washington in a case in which an adoption results from independent placement or placement by a licensed child-placing or supervising agency.
RCW 74.66.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 66 / Section 040
RCW 74.66.040: Attorney general—Investigation—Civil action.
Status: in_force

The attorney general must diligently investigate a violation under RCW 74.66.020 . If the attorney general finds that a person has violated or is violating RCW 74.66.020 , the attorney general may bring a civil action under this section against the person.
RCW 74.18.127 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 18 / Section 127
RCW 74.18.127: Confidentiality of personal information, records—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1) Personal information and records obtained and retained by the department concerning applicants and eligible individuals are confidential, are not subject to public disclosure, and may be released only in accordance with law or with this provision. (2) The department shall adopt rules and develop contract language to safeguard the confidentiality of all personal information, including photographs and lists of names. Rules and contract language shall ensure that: (a) Specific safeguards are established to protect all current and future stored personal information; (b) Specific safeguards and procedures are established for the release of personal health information in accordance with the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996, 45 C.F.R. 160 through 45 C.F.R. 164; (c) All applicants and eligible individuals and, as appropriate, those individuals' representatives, service providers, cooperating agencies, and interested persons are informed upon initial intake of the confidentiality of personal information and the conditions for accessing and releasing this information; (d) All applicants or their representatives are informed about the department's need to collect personal information and the policies governing its use, including: (i) Identification of the authority under which information is collected; (ii) explanation of the principal purposes for which the department intends to use or release the information; (iii) explanation of whether providing requested information to the department is mandatory or voluntary and the effects of not providing requested information; (iv) identification of those situations in which the department requires or does not require informed written consent of the individual before information may be released; and (v) identification of other agencies to which information is routinely released; and (e) An explanation of department policies and procedures affecting personal information will be provided at intake or on request to each individual in that individual's native language and in an appropriate format including but not limited to braille, audio recording, electronic media, or large print.
RCW 74.15.125 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 15 / Section 125
RCW 74.15.125: Probationary licenses—Child-specific licenses.
Status: in_force

(1) The department may issue a probationary license to a licensee who has had a license but is temporarily unable to comply with a rule or has been the subject of multiple complaints or concerns about noncompliance if: (a) The noncompliance does not present an immediate threat to the health and well-being of the children but would be likely to do so if allowed to continue; and (b) The licensee has a plan approved by the department to correct the area of noncompliance within the probationary period. (2) A probationary license may be issued for up to six months, and at the discretion of the department it may be extended for an additional six months. The department shall immediately terminate the probationary license, if at any time the noncompliance for which the probationary license was issued presents an immediate threat to the health or well-being of the children. (3) The department may, at any time, issue a probationary license for due cause that states the conditions of probation. (4) An existing license is invalidated when a probationary license is issued. (5) At the expiration of the probationary license, the department shall reinstate the original license for the remainder of its term, issue a new license, or revoke the original license. (6) A right to an adjudicative proceeding shall not accrue to the licensee whose license has been placed on probationary status unless the licensee does not agree with the placement on probationary status and the department then suspends, revokes, or modifies the license. (7)(a) The department may issue a child-specific license to: (i) A relative, as defined in RCW 13.36.020 , or a suitable person, as defined in RCW 13.36.020 , who opts to become licensed for placement of a specific child and that child's siblings or relatives in the department's care, custody, and control; or (ii) An Indian child's family or extended family member as defined in RCW 13.38.040 who opts to become licensed for placement of a specific Indian child and that child's siblings or relatives in the custody of an Indian tribe as defined in RCW 43.376.010 or the tribe's child placing agency. (b) Such individuals must meet all minimum licensing requirements for foster family homes established pursuant to RCW 74.15.030 and are subject to child-specific license criteria, which the department is authorized to establish by rule. (c) For purposes of federal funding, a child-specific license is considered a full license with all of the rights and responsibilities of a foster family home license, except that at the discretion of the department the licensee may only receive placement of specific children pursuant to (a) of this subsection. (d) A child-specific license does not confer upon the licensee a right to placement of a particular child, nor does it confer party status in any proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW. (e) The department shall seek input from the following stakeholders during the development and adoption of rules necessary to implement this section: Representatives from the kinship care oversight committee, an organization that represents current and former foster youth, an organization that represents child placing agencies, and a statewide advisory group of foster youth and alumni of foster care. The department shall seek tribal input as outlined in the department's government-to-government policy, per RCW 43.376.020 .
RCW 74.08A.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 08A / Section 040
RCW 74.08A.040: Indian tribes—Program access—Funding—Rules.
Status: in_force

The department shall (1) provide eligible Indian tribes ongoing, meaningful opportunities to participate in the development, oversight, and operation of the state temporary assistance for needy families program; (2) certify annually that it is providing equitable access to the state temporary assistance for needy families program to Indian people whose tribe is not administering a tribal temporary assistance for needy families program; (3) coordinate and cooperate with eligible Indian tribes that elect to operate a tribal temporary assistance for needy families program as provided for in P.L. 104-193; (4) upon approval by the secretary of the federal department of health and human services of a tribal temporary assistance for needy families program, transfer a fair and equitable amount of the state maintenance of effort funds to the eligible Indian tribe; and (5) establish rules related to the operation of this section and RCW 74.08A.050 , covering, at a minimum, appropriate uses of state maintenance of effort funds and annual reports on program operations. The legislature shall specify the amount of state maintenance of effort funds to be transferred in the biennial appropriations act.
RCW 74.98.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 98 / Section 040
RCW 74.98.040: Purpose—1959 c 26.
Status: in_force

It is the purpose and intent of this title to provide for the public welfare by making available, in conjunction with federal matching funds, such public assistance as is necessary to insure to recipients thereof a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health.
RCW 74.70.900 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 70 / Section 900
RCW 74.70.900: Effective date—2020 c 354.
Status: in_force

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 3, 2020].
RCW 74.09.4951 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 4951
RCW 74.09.4951: Children and youth behavioral health work group—Advisory groups—Report to governor and legislature.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2429-S2.SL ) ***

(1) The children and youth behavioral health work group is established to: (a) Identify barriers to and opportunities for accessing behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults and their families; (b) Strengthen and build a coordinated systemic approach to providing behavioral health care and supports that ensure that all children, youth, young adults, and their families have timely access to high quality, equitable, well-resourced behavioral health education, care, and supports across the continuum when and where they need it, including prenatal care; and (c) Advise the legislature on statewide behavioral health services for this population. (2) The work group shall consist of members and alternates as provided in this subsection. Members must represent the regional, racial, and cultural diversity of all children and families in the state. (a) The president of the senate shall appoint one member and one alternate from each of the two largest caucuses in the senate. (b) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member and one alternate from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives. (c) The governor shall appoint six members representing the following state agencies and offices: The department of children, youth, and families; the department of social and health services; the health care authority; the department of health; the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs; and the office of the governor. (d) Subject to the requirements under (k) of this subsection, the governor shall appoint the following members: (i) One representative of behavioral health administrative services organizations; (ii) One representative of community mental health agencies; (iii) Two representatives of medicaid managed care organizations, one of which must provide managed care to children and youth receiving child welfare services; (iv) One regional provider of co-occurring disorder services; (v) One pediatrician or primary care provider; (vi) One provider specializing in infant or early childhood mental health; (vii) One representative who advocates for behavioral health issues on behalf of children and youth; (viii) One representative of early learning and child care providers; (ix) One representative of the evidence-based practice institute; (x) Two parents or caregivers of children who have received behavioral health services, one of which must have a child under the age of six; (xi) One representative of an education or teaching institution that provides training for mental health professionals; (xii) One foster parent; (xiii) One representative of providers of culturally and linguistically appropriate health services to traditionally underserved communities; (xiv) One pediatrician located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains; (xv) One child psychiatrist; (xvi) One representative of an organization representing the interests of individuals with developmental disabilities; (xvii) Three youth or young adult representatives who have experience with behavioral health services; (xviii) One representative of a private insurance organization; (xix) One representative from the statewide family youth system partner roundtable established in the T.R. v. Strange and McDermott , formerly the T.R. v. Dreyfus and Porter , settlement agreement; (xx) One representative from educational service districts established under chapter 28A.310 RCW; and (xxi) One substance use disorder professional. (e) The governor shall request participation by a representative of tribal governments. (f) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint one representative from the office of the superintendent of public instruction. (g) The insurance commissioner shall appoint one representative from the office of the insurance commissioner. (h) The work group shall choose one of the work group's cochairs from among its legislative members and the other cochair must be the representative from the health care authority. The representative from the health care authority shall convene at least two meetings of the work group each year. (i) The cochairs may invite additional members of the house of representatives and the senate to participate in work group activities, including as leaders of advisory groups to the work group. These legislators are not required to be formally appointed members of the work group in order to participate in or lead advisory groups. (j) The cochairs may request that the governor appoint additional members of the work group representing specific professions, organizations, or communities. The governor's office may consult with the cochairs as needed on these discretionary appointments. (k) The terms for work group members appointed under (d) of this subsection after June 6, 2024, may not exceed three years. Work group members appointed under (d) of this subsection before June 6, 2024, may remain in their positions until January 1, 2027, but their terms may not go beyond that date. (3) The work group shall: (a) Monitor the implementation of enacted legislation, programs, and policies related to children and youth behavioral health, including provider payment for mood, anxiety, and substance use disorder prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment for children and young mothers; consultation services for child care providers caring for children with symptoms of trauma; home visiting services; and streamlining agency rules for providers of behavioral health services; (b) Consider system strategies to improve coordination and remove barriers between the early learning, K-12 education, and health care systems; (c) Identify opportunities to remove barriers to treatment and strengthen behavioral health service delivery for children and youth; (d) Determine the strategies and resources needed to: (i) Improve inpatient and outpatient access to behavioral health services; (ii) Support the unique needs of young children prenatally through age five, including promoting health and social and emotional development in the context of children's family, community, and culture; (iii) Develop and sustain system improvements to support the behavioral health needs of children, youth, and young adults; and (iv) Achieve parity of private health insurance coverage for behavioral health conditions with the coverage provided for other health conditions; and (e) Consider issues and recommendations put forward by the statewide family youth system partner roundtable established in the T.R. v. Strange and McDermott , formerly the T.R. v. Dreyfus and Porter , settlement agreement. (4) At the direction of the cochairs, the work group may convene advisory groups to evaluate specific issues and report related findings and recommendations to the full work group. (5) The work group shall convene an advisory group focused on school-based behavioral health and suicide prevention. The advisory group shall advise the full work group on creating and maintaining an integrated system of care through a tiered support framework for preschool through twelfth grade school systems defined by the office of the superintendent of public instruction and behavioral health care systems that can rapidly identify students in need of care and effectively link these students to appropriate services, provide age-appropriate education on behavioral health and other universal supports for social-emotional wellness for all students, and improve both education and behavioral health outcomes for students. The school-based behavioral health and suicide prevention advisory group shall consider the broader behavioral health issues impacting children, youth, and families, while focusing on the issues that are unique to children and families that interface with schools. The work group cochairs may invite nonwork group members to participate as advisory group members. (6)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the work group shall convene an advisory group for the purpose of developing a draft strategic plan that describes: (i) The current landscape of behavioral health services available to families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth in Washington state, including a description of: (A) The gaps and barriers in receiving or accessing behavioral health services, including services for co-occurring behavioral health disorders or other conditions; (B) Access to high quality, equitable care and supports in behavioral health education and promotion, prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and ongoing well-being supports; (C) The current supports and services that address emerging behavioral health issues before a diagnosis and more intensive services or clinical treatment is needed; and (D) The current behavioral health care oversight and management of services and systems; (ii) The vision for the behavioral health service delivery system for families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth, including: (A) A complete continuum of services from education, promotion, prevention, early intervention through crisis response, intensive treatment, postintervention, and recovery, as well as supports that sustain wellness in the behavioral health spectrum; (B) How access can be provided to high quality, equitable care and supports in behavioral health education, promotion, prevention, intervention, recovery, and ongoing well-being when and where needed; (C) How the children and youth behavioral health system must successfully pair with the 988 behavioral health crisis response described under chapter 82.86 RCW; (D) The incremental steps needed to achieve the vision for the behavioral health service delivery system based on the current gaps and barriers for accessing behavioral health services, with estimated dates for these steps; and (E) The oversight and management needed to ensure effective behavioral health care; and (iii) A comparison of the current behavioral health system for families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth that is primarily based on crisis response and inadequate capacity with the behavioral health system vision created by the strategic planning process through a cost-benefit analysis. (b) The work group cochairs shall appoint a chair for the strategic plan advisory group and may invite nonwork group members to participate as advisory group members, but the strategic plan advisory group shall include, at a minimum: (i) Community members with lived experience including those with cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity, as well as those having diverse experience with behavioral health care invited by the work group cochairs; (ii) A representative from the department of children, youth, and families; (iii) A representative from the department; (iv) A representative from the authority; (v) A representative from the department of health; (vi) A representative from the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs; (vii) A representative from the office of the governor; (viii) A representative from the developmental disability administration of the department of social and health services; (ix) A representative from the office of the superintendent of public instruction; (x) A representative from the office of the insurance commissioner; (xi) A tribal representative; (xii) Two legislative members or alternates from the work group; and (xiii) Individuals invited by the work group cochairs with relevant subject matter expertise. (c) The health care authority shall conduct competitive procurements as necessary in accordance with chapter 39.26 RCW to select a third-party facilitator to facilitate the strategic plan advisory group. (d) To assist the strategic plan advisory group in its work, the authority, in consultation with the cochairs of the work group, shall select an entity to conduct the activities set forth in this subsection. The health care authority may contract directly with a public agency as defined under RCW 39.34.020 through an interagency agreement. If the health care authority determines, in consultation with the cochairs of the work group, that a public agency is not appropriate for conducting these analyses, the health care authority may select another entity through competitive procurements as necessary in accordance with chapter 39.26 RCW. The activities that entities selected under this subsection must complete include: (i) Following a statewide stakeholder engagement process, a behavioral health landscape analysis for families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth outlining: (A) The current service continuum including the cost of care, delivery service models, and state oversight for behavioral health services covered by medicaid and private insurance; (B) Current gaps in the service continuum, areas without access to services, workforce demand, and capacity shortages; (C) Barriers to accessing preventative services and necessary care including inequities in service access, affordability, cultural responsiveness, linguistic responsiveness, gender responsiveness, and developmentally appropriate service availability; and (D) Incorporated information provided by the 988 crisis hotline crisis response improvement strategy committee; (ii) A gap analysis estimating the prevalence of needs for Washington state behavioral health services for families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth served by medicaid or private insurance, including: (A) The estimated number of families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth who need clinical behavioral health services or could benefit from preventive or early intervention services on an annual basis; (B) The estimated number of expectant parents and caregivers in need of behavioral health services; (C) A collection and analysis of disaggregated data to better understand regional, economic, linguistic, gender, and racial gaps in access to behavioral health services; (D) The estimated costs of providing services that include a range of behavioral health supports that will meet the projected needs of the population; and (E) Recommendations on the distribution of resources to deliver needed services to families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth across multiple settings; and (iii) An analysis of peer-reviewed publications, evidence-based practices, and other existing practices and guidelines with preferred outcomes regarding the delivery of behavioral health services to families in the perinatal phase, children, youth transitioning into adulthood, and the caregivers of those children and youth across multiple settings including: (A) Approaches to increasing access and quality of care for underserved populations; (B) Approaches to providing developmentally appropriate care; (C) The integration of culturally responsive care with effective clinical care practices and guidelines; (D) Strategies to maximize federal reinvestment and resources from any alternative funding sources; and (E) Workforce development strategies that ensure a sustained, representative, and diverse workforce. (e) The strategic plan advisory group shall prioritize its work as follows: (i) Hold its first meeting by September 1, 2022; (ii) Provide a progress report on the development of the strategic plan, including a timeline of future strategic plan development steps, to be included in the work group's 2022 annual report required under subsection (10) of this section; (iii) Provide a progress report on the development of the strategic plan, including discussion of the work group recommendations that align with the strategic plan development thus far, to be included in the work group's 2024 annual report required under subsection (10) of this section; (iv) Provide a draft strategic plan, along with any materials produced by entities selected under (d) of this subsection, to the work group by August 1, 2025. The draft strategic plan must be developed in coordination with the joint legislative and executive committee on behavioral health established in section 135(15), chapter 475, Laws of 2023, the department of health, and the health care authority related to the implementation of the 988 crisis hotline. (f) The work group shall discuss the draft strategic plan and adopt a final strategic plan that must be submitted to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature at the same time as the work group's 2025 annual report required under subsection (10) of this section. (7)(a) Staff support for the work group, including administration of work group meetings and preparation of full work group recommendations and reports required under this section, must be provided by the health care authority. (b) Additional staff support for legislative members of the work group may be provided by senate committee services and the house of representatives office of program research. (c) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of the superintendent of public instruction must provide staff support to the school-based behavioral health and suicide prevention advisory group, including administration of advisory group meetings and the preparation and delivery of advisory group recommendations to the full work group. (8)(a) Legislative members of the work group are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 . Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Except as provided under (b) of this subsection, any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW. (b) Members of the children and youth behavioral health work group or an advisory group established under this section with lived experience may receive a stipend of up to $200 per day if: (i) The member participates in the meeting virtually or in person, even if only participating for one meeting and not on an ongoing basis; and (ii) The member does not receive compensation, including paid leave, from the member's employer or contractor for participation in the meeting. (9) The following definitions apply to this section: (a) "A member with lived experience" means an individual who has received behavioral health services or whose family member has received behavioral health services; and (b) "Families in the perinatal phase" means families during the time from pregnancy through one year after birth. (10) Beginning November 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the work group shall provide recommendations in alignment with subsection (3) of this section to the governor and the legislature. Beginning November 1, 2026, the work group shall include in its annual report a discussion of how the work group's recommendations align with the final strategic plan described under subsection (6) of this section. (11) This section expires December 30, 2029.
RCW 74.34.068 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 34 / Section 068
RCW 74.34.068: Investigation results—Report—Rules.
Status: in_force

(1) After the investigation is complete, the department may provide a written report of the outcome of the investigation to an agency or program described in this subsection when the department determines from its investigation that an incident of abuse, abandonment, financial exploitation, or neglect occurred. Agencies or programs that may be provided this report are home health, hospice, or home care agencies, or after January 1, 2002, any in-home services agency licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, a program authorized under chapter 71A.12 RCW, an adult day care or day health program, behavioral health administrative services organizations and managed care organizations authorized under chapter 71.24 RCW, or other agencies. The report may contain the name of the vulnerable adult and the alleged perpetrator. The report shall not disclose the identity of the person who made the report or any witness without the written permission of the reporter or witness. The department shall notify the alleged perpetrator regarding the outcome of the investigation. The name of the vulnerable adult must not be disclosed during this notification. (2) The department may also refer a report or outcome of an investigation to appropriate state or local governmental authorities responsible for licensing or certification of the agencies or programs listed in subsection (1) of this section. (3) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
RCW 74.13.031 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 031
RCW 74.13.031: Duties of department—Child welfare services—Children's services advisory committee.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall develop, administer, supervise, and monitor a coordinated and comprehensive plan that establishes, aids, and strengthens services for the protection and care of runaway, dependent, or neglected children. (2) Within available resources, the department shall recruit an adequate number of prospective adoptive and foster homes, both regular and specialized, i.e. homes for children of ethnic minority, including Indian homes for Indian children, sibling groups, children with disabilities or behavioral health conditions, teens, pregnant and parenting teens, and the department shall annually provide data and information to the governor and the legislature concerning the department's success in: (a) Placing children with relatives; (b) providing supports to kinship caregivers including guardianship assistance payments; (c) supporting relatives to pass home studies and become licensed caregivers; and (d) meeting the need for nonrelative family foster homes when children cannot be placed with relatives. (3) The department shall investigate complaints of any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse or exploitation, or that presents an imminent risk of serious harm, and on the basis of the findings of such investigation, offer child welfare services in relation to the problem to such parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis, and/or bring the situation to the attention of an appropriate court, or another community agency. An investigation is not required of nonaccidental injuries which are clearly not the result of a lack of care or supervision by the child's parents, legal custodians, or persons serving in loco parentis. If the investigation reveals that a crime against a child may have been committed, the department shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency. (4) The department shall make recommendations to the legislature about the types of services that need to be offered to children who have been identified by a state or local agency as being a victim of either sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons described under the trafficking victims protection act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7101 et seq. (5) For children identified as victims of sex trafficking and victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons described under the trafficking victims protection act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. Sec. 7101 et seq., the department: (a) Shall assess and offer services to dependent children as described under RCW 13.34.030 ; and (b) May assess and offer services to children who have not been found dependent. (6) As provided in RCW 26.44.030 , the department may respond to a report of child abuse or neglect by using the family assessment response. (7) The department shall offer, on a voluntary basis, family reconciliation services to families who are in conflict. (8) The department shall monitor placements of children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies to assure the safety, well-being, and quality of care being provided is within the scope of the intent of the legislature as defined in RCW 74.13.010 and 74.15.010 . Under this section children in out-of-home care and in-home dependencies and their caregivers shall receive a private and individual face-to-face visit each month. The department shall randomly select no less than ten percent of the caregivers currently providing care to receive one unannounced face-to-face visit in the caregiver's home per year. No caregiver will receive an unannounced visit through the random selection process for two consecutive years. If the caseworker makes a good faith effort to conduct the unannounced visit to a caregiver and is unable to do so, that month's visit to that caregiver need not be unannounced. The department is encouraged to group monthly visits to caregivers by geographic area so that in the event an unannounced visit cannot be completed, the caseworker may complete other required monthly visits. The department shall use a method of random selection that does not cause a fiscal impact to the department. The department shall conduct the monthly visits with children and caregivers to whom it is providing child welfare services. (9) The department shall have authority to accept custody of children from parents and to accept custody of children from juvenile courts, where authorized to do so under law, to provide child welfare services including placement for adoption, to provide for the routine and necessary medical, dental, and mental health care, or necessary emergency care of the children, and to provide for the physical care of such children and make payment of maintenance costs if needed. Except where required by Public Law 95-608 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915), no private adoption agency which receives children for adoption from the department shall discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or color when considering applications in their placement for adoption. (10) The department may accept custody of children from parents through a voluntary placement agreement to provide child welfare services. The department may place children with a relative, a suitable person, or a licensed foster home under a voluntary placement agreement. In seeking a placement for a voluntary placement agreement, the department should consider the preferences of the parents and attempt to place with relatives or suitable persons over licensed foster care. (11) The department shall have authority to provide temporary shelter to children who have run away from home and who are admitted to crisis residential centers. (12) The department shall have authority to purchase care for children. (13) The department shall establish a children's services advisory committee which shall assist the secretary in the development of a partnership plan for utilizing resources of the public and private sectors, and advise on all matters pertaining to child welfare, licensing of child care agencies, adoption, and services related thereto. At least one member shall represent the adoption community. (14)(a) The department shall provide continued extended foster care services to eligible youth who request extended foster care. The department shall develop policies and procedures to ensure that dependent youth aged 15 and older are informed of the extended foster care program. (b) The department shall pursue federal reimbursement, where appropriate, when a youth is: (i) Enrolled in a secondary education program or a secondary education equivalency program; (ii) Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational education program; (iii) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment; (iv) Engaged in employment for eighty hours or more per month; or (v) Not able to engage in any of the activities described in (b)(i) through (iv) of this subsection due to a documented medical condition. (c) To be eligible for extended foster care services, the youth must have been dependent at the time that he or she reached age 18 years. If the dependency case of the youth was dismissed pursuant to RCW 13.34.267 , he or she may receive extended foster care services pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement under RCW 74.13.336 or pursuant to an order of dependency issued by the court under RCW 13.34.268 . A youth whose dependency case was dismissed by the court may request extended foster care services before reaching age 21 years. Eligible youths may unenroll and reenroll in extended foster care through a voluntary placement agreement an unlimited number of times between ages 18 and 21. (d) The department shall not create additional eligibility requirements for extended foster care. The department shall develop and implement rules and policies designed to provide age-appropriate social work support for youth in extended foster care through a codesign process that includes those with lived experience in the foster care system. (e) The department shall make efforts to ensure that extended foster care services maximize medicaid reimbursements. This must include the department ensuring that health and mental health extended foster care providers participate in medicaid, unless the condition of the extended foster care youth requires specialty care that is not available among participating medicaid providers or there are no participating medicaid providers in the area. The department shall coordinate other services to maximize federal resources and the most cost-efficient delivery of services to extended foster care youth. (f) The department shall allow eligible youth to reenter the extended foster care program an unlimited number of times through a voluntary placement agreement. (g) A youth enrolled in extended foster care may elect to receive a licensed foster care placement or may live independently. A youth who is not in a licensed foster care placement is eligible for a monthly supervised independent living subsidy effective the date the youth signs the voluntary placement agreement, agrees to dependency, or informs their social worker that they are living independently, whichever occurs first. (h) The department shall pursue federal reimbursement, where appropriate, when a youth is residing in an approved supervised independent living setting. If the youth is not residing in an approved supervised independent living setting, the department is to work with the youth to help identify an appropriate living arrangement until the youth is living in a safe location approved by the department or the court. During this time, the department shall continue to pay the monthly supervised independent living subsidy. (15) The department shall have authority to provide adoption support benefits on behalf of youth ages 18 to 21 years who achieved permanency through adoption at age 16 or older and who meet the criteria described in subsection (14)(b)(i) through (v) of this section. (16) The department shall have the authority to provide guardianship subsidies on behalf of youth ages 18 to 21 who achieved permanency through guardianship and who meet the criteria described in subsection (14)(b)(i) through (v) of this section. (17) The department shall refer cases to the division of child support whenever state or federal funds are expended for the care and maintenance of a child, including a child with a developmental disability who is placed as a result of an action under chapter 13.34 RCW, unless the department finds that there is good cause not to pursue collection of child support against the parent or parents of the child. Cases involving individuals age 18 through 20 shall not be referred to the division of child support unless required by federal law. (18) The department shall have authority within funds appropriated for foster care services to purchase care for Indian children who are in the custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency pursuant to parental consent, tribal court order, or state juvenile court order. The purchase of such care is exempt from the requirements of chapter 74.13B RCW and may be purchased from the federally recognized Indian tribe or tribally licensed child-placing agency, and shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department purchases care. Notwithstanding any other provision of RCW 13.32A.170 through 13.32A.200 , 43.185C.295 , 74.13.035 , and 74.13.036 , or of this section all services to be provided by the department under subsections (6), (9), and (11) of this section, subject to the limitations of these subsections, may be provided by any program offering such services funded pursuant to Titles II and III of the federal juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act of 1974. (19) The department may, within funds appropriated for guardianship subsidies, provide subsidies for eligible guardians who are appointed as guardian of an Indian child by the tribal court of a federally recognized tribe located in Washington state, as defined in RCW 13.38.040 . The provision of subsidies shall be subject to the same eligibility standards and rates of support applicable to other children for whom the department provides subsidies. To be eligible, the guardian must either be certified by a department-licensed child-placing agency or licensed by a federally recognized tribe located in Washington state that is a Title IV-E agency, as defined in 45 C.F.R. 1355.20. (20) Within amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall provide preventive services to families with children that prevent or shorten the duration of an out-of-home placement. (21) The department shall have authority to provide independent living services to youths, including individuals who have attained eighteen years of age, and have not attained twenty-three years of age, who are or have been in the department's care and custody, or who are or were nonminor dependents. (22) The department shall consult at least quarterly with foster parents, including members of the foster parent association of Washington state, for the purpose of receiving information and comment regarding how the department is performing the duties and meeting the obligations specified in this section and RCW 74.13.250 regarding the recruitment of foster homes, reducing foster parent turnover rates, providing effective training for foster parents, and administering a coordinated and comprehensive plan that strengthens services for the protection of children. Consultation shall occur at the regional and statewide levels. (23)(a) The department shall, within current funding levels, place on its public website a document listing the duties and responsibilities the department has to a child subject to a dependency petition including, but not limited to, the following: (i) Reasonable efforts, including the provision of services, toward reunification of the child with his or her family; (ii) Sibling visits subject to the restrictions in RCW 13.34.136 (2)(b)(ii); (iii) Parent-child visits; (iv) Statutory preference for placement with a relative or other suitable person, if appropriate; and (v) Statutory preference for an out-of-home placement that allows the child to remain in the same school or school district, if practical and in the child's best interests. (b) The document must be prepared in conjunction with a community-based organization and must be updated as needed. (24)(a) The department shall have the authority to purchase legal representation for parents or kinship caregivers, or both, of children who are at risk of being dependent, or who are dependent, to establish or modify a parenting plan under RCW 13.34.155 or chapter 26.09 , 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW or secure orders establishing other relevant civil legal relationships authorized by law, when it is necessary for the child's safety, permanence, or well-being. The department's purchase of legal representation for kinship caregivers must be within the department's appropriations. This subsection does not create an entitlement to legal representation purchased by the department and does not create judicial authority to order the department to purchase legal representation for a parent or kinship caregiver. Such determinations are solely within the department's discretion. The term "kinship caregiver" as used in this section means a caregiver who meets the definition of "kin" in RCW 74.13.600 (1), unless the child is an Indian child as defined in RCW 13.38.040 and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903. For an Indian child as defined in RCW 13.38.040 and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 1903, the term "kinship caregiver" as used in this section means a caregiver who is an "extended family member" as defined in RCW 13.38.040 (8). (b) The department is encouraged to work with the office of public defense parent representation program and the office of civil legal aid to develop a cost-effective system for providing effective civil legal representation for parents and kinship caregivers if it exercises its authority under this subsection.
RCW 74.13.232 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 232
RCW 74.13.232: Services to homeless families.
Status: in_force

The department's duty to provide services to homeless families with children is set forth in RCW 43.20A.790 and in appropriations provided by the legislature for implementation of the comprehensive plan for homeless families with children.
RCW 74.39A.086 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 086
RCW 74.39A.086: Enforcement actions against persons not certified as home care aides and their employers—Rule-making authority.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall take appropriate enforcement action related to the contract of a consumer directed employer or a licensed or certified private agency or facility that provides long-term care services and knowingly employs a long-term care worker who is not a certified home care aide as required under chapter 18.88B RCW or, if exempted from certification under RCW 18.88B.041 , who has not completed his or her required training under RCW 74.39A.074 . (2) The department shall deny payment to individual providers who provided services under a contract with the department if they have been notified that they are no longer permitted to work because they: (a) Were not certified as home care aides as required under chapter 18.88B RCW; or (b) Had not completed the training required under RCW 74.39A.074 . (3) The department may terminate the contract of any individual provider under contract with the department who: (a) Is not certified as a home care aide as required under chapter 18.88B RCW; or (b) Has not completed the training required under RCW 74.39A.074 . (4) Chapter 34.05 RCW shall govern actions by the department under this section. (5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.
RCW 74.66.130 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 66 / Section 130
RCW 74.66.130: Reporting.
Status: in_force

Beginning November 15, 2012, and annually thereafter, the attorney general in consultation with the health care authority must report results of implementing the medicaid fraud false claims act. This report must include: (1) The number of attorneys assigned to qui tam initiated actions; (2) The number of cases brought by qui tam actions and indicate how many cases are brought by the attorney general and how many by the qui tam relator without attorney general participation; (3) The results of any actions brought under subsection (2) of this section, delineated by cases brought by the attorney general and cases brought by the qui tam relator without attorney general participation; (4) The amount of recoveries attributable to the medicaid false claims; and (5) Information on the costs, attorneys' fees, and any other expenses incurred by defendants in investigating and defending against qui tam actions, to the extent this information is provided to the attorney general or health care authority.
RCW 74.29.050 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 29 / Section 050
RCW 74.29.050: Acceptance of federal aid—Generally.
Status: in_force

The state of Washington does hereby: (1) Accept the provisions and maximum possible benefits resulting from any acts of congress which provide benefits for the purposes of this chapter; (2) Designate the state treasurer as custodian of all moneys received by the state from appropriations made by the congress of the United States for purposes of this chapter, and authorize the state treasurer to make disbursements therefrom upon the order of the department; and (3) Empower and direct the department to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the provisions of this chapter or of any federal law or regulation pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, and to comply with such conditions as may be necessary to assure the maximum possible benefits resulting from any such federal law or regulation.
RCW 74.09.745 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 745
RCW 74.09.745: Medicaid funding for home visiting services—Recommendations to legislature.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall collaborate with the department of children, youth, and families to identify opportunities to leverage medicaid funding for home visiting services. (2) The authority must provide a set of recommendations relevant to subsection (1) of this section to the legislature by December 1, 2018, that builds upon the research and strategies developed in the Washington state home visiting and medicaid financing strategies report submitted by the authority to the department of early learning in August 2017.
RCW 74.13.065 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 065
RCW 74.13.065: Out-of-home care—Social study required.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall conduct a social study whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care under the supervision of the department. The study shall be conducted prior to placement, or, if it is not feasible to conduct the study prior to placement due to the circumstances of the case, the study shall be conducted as soon as possible following placement. (2) The social study shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the following factors: (a) The physical and emotional strengths and needs of the child; (b) Emotional bonds with siblings and the need to maintain regular sibling contacts; (c) The proximity of the child's placement to the child's family to aid reunification; (d) The possibility of placement with the child's relatives or extended family; (e) The racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious background of the child; (f) The least-restrictive, most family-like placement reasonably available and capable of meeting the child's needs; and (g) Compliance with RCW 13.34.260 regarding parental preferences for placement of their children.
RCW 74.70.080 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 70 / Section 080
RCW 74.70.080: Federal approval.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The authority shall request any approval from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services it determines are necessary for the use of fees pursuant to this chapter and for the purpose of receiving associated federal matching funds. (b) This chapter shall be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available. The quality assurance fee pursuant to RCW 74.70.050 shall only be assessed and collected for quarters in which the add-on pursuant to RCW 74.70.060 is paid. (2) The authority may modify or make adjustments to any methodology, fee amount, or other provision specified in this chapter to the minimum extent necessary to meet the requirements of federal law or regulations or to obtain federal approval. If the authority, after consulting with ambulance transport providers, determines that a modification is needed, the authority shall execute a declaration stating that this determination has been made and that the actual or projected available fee amount for a state fiscal year remains approximately equal to the actual or projected aggregate fee schedule amount for each applicable state fiscal year, as defined by RCW 74.70.050 (2)(c). The authority shall retain the declaration and provide a copy, within ten working days of the execution of the declaration, to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature.
RCW 74.42.020 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 42 / Section 020
RCW 74.42.020: Minimum standards.
Status: in_force

The standards in RCW 74.42.030 through 74.42.570 are the minimum standards for facilities licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That RCW 74.42.040 , 74.42.140 through 74.42.280 , 74.42.300 , 74.42.360 , 74.42.370 , 74.42.380 , 74.42.420 (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7), 74.42.430 (3), 74.42.450 (2) and (3), 74.42.520 , 74.42.530 , 74.42.540 , 74.42.570 , and 74.42.580 shall not apply to any nursing home or institution conducted for those who rely upon treatment by prayer or spiritual means in accordance with the creed or tenets of any well-recognized church or religious denomination, or for any nursing home or institution operated for the exclusive care of members of a convent as defined in RCW 84.36.800 or rectory, monastery, or other institution operated for the care of members of the clergy.
RCW 74.13.640 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 640
RCW 74.13.640: Child fatality reviews.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The department shall conduct a child fatality review in the event of a fatality suspected to be caused by child abuse or neglect of any minor who is in the care of the department or receiving services described in this chapter or who has been in the care of the department or received services described in this chapter within one year preceding the minor's death. (b) The department shall consult with the office of the family and children's ombuds to determine if a child fatality review should be conducted in any case in which it cannot be determined whether the child's death is the result of suspected child abuse or neglect. (c) The department shall ensure that the fatality review team is made up of individuals who had no previous involvement in the case, including individuals whose professional expertise is pertinent to the dynamics of the case. (d) Upon conclusion of a child fatality review required pursuant to this section, the department shall within one hundred eighty days following the fatality issue a report on the results of the review, unless an extension has been granted by the governor. Reports must be distributed to the appropriate committees of the legislature, and the department shall create a public website where all child fatality review reports required under this section must be posted and maintained. A child fatality review report completed pursuant to this section is subject to public disclosure and must be posted on the public website, except that confidential information may be redacted by the department consistent with the requirements of RCW 13.50.100 , 68.50.105 , 74.13.500 through 74.13.525 , chapter 42.56 RCW, and other applicable state and federal laws. (e) The department shall develop and implement procedures to carry out the requirements of this section. (2)(a) In the event of a near fatality of a child who is in the care of or receiving services described in this chapter from the department or who has been in the care of or received services described in this chapter from the department within one year preceding the near fatality, the department shall promptly notify the office of the family and children's ombuds. The department may conduct a review of the near fatality at its discretion or at the request of the office of the family and children's ombuds. (b) In the event of a near fatality of a child who is in the care of or receiving services described in this chapter from the department or who has been in the care of or received services described in this chapter from the department within three months preceding the near fatality, or was the subject of an investigation by the department for possible abuse or neglect, the department shall promptly notify the office of the family and children's ombuds and the department shall conduct a review of the near fatality. (c) "Near fatality" means an act that, as certified by a physician, places the child in serious or critical condition. (3) In any review of a child fatality or near fatality in which the child was placed with or received services from an agency pursuant to a contract with the department, the department and the fatality review team shall have access to all records and files regarding the child or otherwise relevant to the review that have been produced or retained by the agency. (4)(a) A child fatality or near fatality review completed pursuant to this section is subject to discovery in a civil or administrative proceeding, but may not be admitted into evidence or otherwise used in a civil or administrative proceeding except pursuant to this section. (b) A department employee responsible for conducting a child fatality or near fatality review, or member of a child fatality or near fatality review team, may not be examined in a civil or administrative proceeding regarding (i) the work of the child fatality or near fatality review team, (ii) the incident under review, (iii) his or her statements, deliberations, thoughts, analyses, or impressions relating to the work of the child fatality or near fatality review team or the incident under review, or (iv) the statements, deliberations, thoughts, analyses, or impressions of any other member of the child fatality or near fatality review team, or any person who provided information to the child fatality or near fatality review team, relating to the work of the child fatality or near fatality review team or the incident under review. (c) Documents prepared by or for a child fatality or near fatality review team are inadmissible and may not be used in a civil or administrative proceeding, except that any document that exists before its use or consideration in a child fatality or near fatality review, or that is created independently of such review, does not become inadmissible merely because it is reviewed or used by a child fatality or near fatality review team. A person is not unavailable as a witness merely because the person has been interviewed by or has provided a statement for a child fatality or near fatality review, but if called as a witness, a person may not be examined regarding the person's interactions with the child fatality or near fatality review including, without limitation, whether the person was interviewed during such review, the questions that were asked during such review, and the answers that the person provided during such review. This section may not be construed as restricting the person from testifying fully in any proceeding regarding his or her knowledge of the incident under review. (d) The restrictions set forth in this section do not apply in a licensing or disciplinary proceeding arising from an agency's effort to revoke or suspend the license of any licensed professional based in whole or in part upon allegations of wrongdoing in connection with a minor's death or near fatality reviewed by a child fatality or near fatality review team.
RCW 74.04.655 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 04 / Section 655
RCW 74.04.655: Vocational rehabilitation—Assessment, referral.
Status: in_force

(1) The economic services administration shall work jointly with the division of vocational rehabilitation to develop an assessment tool that must be used to determine whether the programs offered by the division of vocational rehabilitation could assist persons receiving benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.220 in returning to the workforce. The assessment tool shall be completed no later than December 1, 2010. The economic services administration shall begin using the tool no later than January 1, 2011. No later than December 30, 2011, the department shall report on the use of the tool and to what extent the programs offered by the division of vocational rehabilitation have been successful in returning persons receiving aged, blind, or disabled benefits to the workforce. (2) After January 1, 2011, all persons receiving benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.230 shall be assessed to determine whether they would likely benefit from a program offered by the division of vocational rehabilitation. If the assessment indicates that the person might benefit, the economic services administration shall make a referral to the division of vocational rehabilitation. If the person is found eligible for a program with the division of vocational rehabilitation, he or she must participate in that program to remain eligible for the monthly stipend and housing voucher or a cash grant. If the person refuses to participate or does not complete the program, the department shall terminate the cash stipend and housing voucher or cash grant but may not terminate medical coverage and food benefits.
RCW 74.46.485 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 46 / Section 485
RCW 74.46.485: Case mix method implementation.
Status: in_force

(1) The legislature recognizes that staff and resources needed to adequately care for individuals with cognitive or behavioral impairments is not limited to support for activities of daily living. Therefore, the department shall: (a) Beginning July 1, 2024, implement a method for applying case mix to the rate. This method should be informed by the minimum data set collected by the centers for medicare and medicaid services; (b) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, employ the case mix adjustment method to adjust rates of individual facilities for case mix changes; (c) Upon the discontinuation of resource utilization group's scores, and in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders, create a new case mix adjustment method for adjusting direct care rates based on changes in case mix using the patient-driven payment method; (d) By December 1, 2024, provide an initial report to the governor and appropriate legislative committees outlining a phased implementation plan; and (e) By December 1, 2026, provide a final report to the appropriate legislative committees. These reports must include the following information: (i) An analysis of the potential impact of the new case mix classification methodology on nursing facility payment rates; (ii) Proposed payment adjustments for capturing specific client needs that may not be clearly captured in the data available from the centers for medicare and medicaid services; and (iii) A plan to continuously monitor the effects of the new methodologies on each facility to ensure certain client populations or needs are not unintentionally negatively impacted. (2) A default case mix group shall be established for cases in which the resident dies or is discharged for any purpose prior to completion of the resident's initial assessment. The default case mix group and case mix weight for these cases shall be designated by the department. (3) A default case mix group may also be established for cases in which there is an untimely assessment for the resident. The default case mix group and case mix weight for these cases shall be designated by the department.
RCW 74.34.220 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 34 / Section 220
RCW 74.34.220: Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults—Training—Reporting.
Status: in_force

(1) A financial institution shall provide training concerning the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to the employees specified in subsection (2) of this section within one year of June 10, 2010, and shall thereafter provide such training to the new employees specified in subsection (2) of this section within the first three months of their employment. (2) A financial institution that is a broker-dealer or investment adviser as defined in RCW 21.20.005 shall provide training concerning the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to employees who are required to be registered in the state of Washington as salespersons or investment adviser representatives under RCW 21.20.040 and who have contact with customers and access to account information on a regular basis and as part of their job. All other financial institutions shall provide training concerning the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to employees who have contact with customers and access to account information on a regular basis and as part of their job. (3) The training must include recognition of indicators of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, the manner in which employees may report suspected financial exploitation to the department and law enforcement as permissive reporters, and steps employees may take to prevent suspected financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult as authorized by law or agreements between the financial institution and customers of the financial institution. The office of the attorney general and the department shall develop a standardized training that financial institutions may offer, or the financial institution may develop its own training. (4) A financial institution may provide access to or copies of records that are relevant to suspected financial exploitation or attempted financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult to the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office, either as part of a referral to the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office, or upon request of the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office pursuant to an investigation. The records may include historical records as well as records relating to the most recent transaction or transactions that may comprise financial exploitation. (5) A financial institution or employee of a financial institution participating in good faith in making a report or providing documentation or access to information to the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office under this chapter shall be immune from criminal, civil, or administrative liability.
RCW 74.12.290 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 12 / Section 290
RCW 74.12.290: Suitability of home—Evaluation.
Status: in_force

The department of social and health services shall, during the initial and any subsequent determination of eligibility, evaluate the suitability of the home in which the dependent child lives, consideration to be given to physical care and supervision provided in the home; social, educational, and the moral atmosphere of the home as compared with the standards of the community; the child's physical and mental health and emotional security, special needs occasioned by the child's physical disabilities or illnesses, if any; the extent to which desirable factors outweigh the undesirable in the home; and the apparent possibility for improving undesirable conditions in the home.
RCW 74.20A.275 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 20A / Section 275
RCW 74.20A.275: Support payments in possession of third parties—Collection.
Status: in_force

(1) If a person or entity not entitled to child support payments wrongfully or negligently retains child support payments owed to another or to the Washington state support registry, those payments retain their character as child support payments and may be collected by the division of child support using any remedy available to the division of child support under Washington law for the collection of child support. (2) Child support moneys subject to collection under this section may be collected for the duration of the statute of limitations as it applies to the support order governing the support obligations, and any legislative or judicial extensions thereto. (3) This section applies to the following: (a) Cases in which an employer or other entity obligated to withhold child support payments from the parent's pay, bank, or escrow account, or from any other asset or distribution of money to the parent, has withheld those payments and failed to remit them to the payee; (b) Cases in which child support moneys have been paid to the wrong person or entity in error; (c) Cases in which child support recipients have retained child support payments in violation of a child support assignment executed or arising by operation of law in exchange for the receipt of public assistance; and (d) Any other case in which child support payments are retained by a party not entitled to them. (4) This section does not apply to fines levied under *RCW 74.20A.350 (3)(b).
RCW 74.41.060 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 41 / Section 060
RCW 74.41.060: Respite care program—Criteria.
Status: in_force

The department shall insure that the respite care program is designed to meet the following criteria: (1) Make maximum use of services which provide care to the greatest number of eligible participants with the fewest number of staff consistent with adequate care; (2) Provide for use of one-on-one care when necessary; (3) Provide for both day care and overnight care; (4) Provide personal care to continue at the same level which the caregiver ordinarily provides to the eligible participant; and (5) Provide for the utilization of family home settings.
RCW 74.46.022 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 46 / Section 022
RCW 74.46.022: Nursing facility medicaid payment system—Establishing procedures, principles, and conditions.
Status: in_force

The department shall establish, by rule, the procedures, principles, and conditions for the nursing facility medicaid payment system addressed by the following principles: (1) The department must receive complete, annual reporting of all costs and the financial condition of each contractor, prepared and presented in a standardized manner. The department shall establish, by rule, due dates, requirements for cost report completion, actions required for improperly completed or late cost reports, fines for any statutory or regulatory noncompliance, retention requirements, and public disclosure requirements. (2) The department shall examine all cost reports to determine whether the information is correct, complete, and reported in compliance with this chapter, department rules and instructions, and generally accepted accounting principles. (3) Each contractor must establish and maintain, as a service to the resident, a bookkeeping system incorporated into the business records for all resident funds entrusted to the contractor and received by the contractor for the resident. The department shall adopt rules to ensure that resident personal funds handled by the contractor are maintained by each contractor in a manner that is, at a minimum, consistent with federal requirements. (4) The department shall have the authority to audit resident trust funds and receivables, at its discretion. (5) Contractors shall provide the department access to the nursing facility, all financial and statistical records, and all working papers that are in support of the cost report, receivables, and resident trust funds. (6) The department shall establish a settlement process in order to reconcile medicaid resident days to billed days and medicaid payments for the preceding calendar year. The settlement process shall ensure that any savings in the direct care or therapy care component rates be shifted only between direct care and therapy care component rates, and shall not be shifted into any other rate components. (7) The department shall define and identify allowable and unallowable costs. (8) A contractor shall bill the department for care provided to medicaid recipients, and the department shall pay a contractor for service rendered under the facility contract and appropriately billed. Billing and payment procedures shall be specified by rule. (9) The department shall establish the conditions for participation in the nursing facility medicaid payment system. (10) The department shall establish procedures and a rate setting methodology for a change of ownership. (11) The department shall establish, consistent with federal requirements for nursing facilities participating in the medicaid program, an appeals or exception procedure that allows individual nursing home providers an opportunity to receive prompt administrative review of payment rates with respect to such issues as the department deems appropriate. (12) The department shall have authority to adopt, amend, and rescind such administrative rules and definitions as it deems necessary to carry out the policies and purposes of this chapter.
RCW 74.04.205 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 04 / Section 205
RCW 74.04.205: Simplified reporting for the food stamp program.
Status: in_force

(1) To the maximum extent allowable by federal law, the department shall implement simplified reporting for the food stamp program by October 31, 2004. (2) For the purposes of this section, "simplified reporting" means the only change in circumstance that a recipient of a benefit program must report between eligibility reviews is an increase of income that would result in ineligibility for the benefit program or a change of address. Every six months the assistance unit must either complete a semiannual report or participate in an eligibility review.
RCW 74.09.327 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 327
RCW 74.09.327: Audio-only telemedicine—Fee-for-service reimbursement.
Status: in_force

(1) The authority shall adopt rules regarding medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement for services delivered through audio-only telemedicine. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the rules must establish a manner of reimbursement for audio-only telemedicine that is consistent with RCW 74.09.325 . (2) The rules shall require rural health clinics to be reimbursed for audio-only telemedicine at the rural health clinic encounter rate. (3)(a) For purposes of this section, "audio-only telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of audio-only technology, permitting real-time communication between a patient at the originating site and the provider, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. (b) For purposes of this section only, "audio-only telemedicine" does not include: (i) The use of facsimile or email; or (ii) The delivery of health care services that are customarily delivered by audio-only technology and customarily not billed as separate services by the provider, such as the sharing of laboratory results.
RCW 74.42.055 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 42 / Section 055
RCW 74.42.055: Discrimination against medicaid recipients prohibited.
Status: in_force

(1) The purpose of this section is to prohibit discrimination against medicaid recipients by nursing homes which have contracted with the department to provide skilled or intermediate nursing care services to medicaid recipients. (2) A nursing facility shall readmit a resident, who has been hospitalized or on therapeutic leave, immediately to the first available bed in a semiprivate room if the resident: (a) Requires the services provided by the facility; and (b) Is eligible for medicaid nursing facility services. (3) It shall be unlawful for any nursing home which has a medicaid contract with the department: (a) To require, as a condition of admission, assurance from the patient or any other person that the patient is not eligible for or will not apply for medicaid; (b) To deny or delay admission or readmission of a person to a nursing home because of his or her status as a medicaid recipient; (c) To transfer a patient, except from a private room to another room within the nursing home, because of his or her status as a medicaid recipient; (d) To transfer a patient to another nursing home because of his or her status as a medicaid recipient; (e) To discharge a patient from a nursing home because of his or her status as a medicaid recipient; or (f) To charge any amounts in excess of the medicaid rate from the date of eligibility, except for any supplementation permitted by the department pursuant to RCW 18.51.070 . (4) Any nursing home which has a medicaid contract with the department shall maintain one list of names of persons seeking admission to the facility, which is ordered by the date of request for admission. This information shall be retained for one year from the month admission was requested. However, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a nursing facility is permitted to give preferential admission to individuals who seek admission from an assisted living facility, licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or from independent retirement housing, provided the nursing facility is owned by the same entity that owns the assisted living facility or independent housing which are located within the same proximate geographic area; and provided further, the purpose of such preferential admission is to allow continued provision of: (a) Culturally or faith-based services, or (b) services provided by a continuing care retirement community as defined in RCW 70.38.025 . (5) The department may assess monetary penalties of a civil nature, not to exceed three thousand dollars for each violation of this section. (6) Because it is a matter of great public importance to protect senior citizens who need medicaid services from discriminatory treatment in obtaining long-term health care, any violation of this section shall be construed for purposes of the application of the consumer protection act, chapter 19.86 RCW, to constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice or unfair method of competition in the conduct of trade or commerce. (7) It is not an act of discrimination under this chapter to refuse to admit a patient if admitting that patient would prevent the needs of the other patients residing in that facility from being met at that facility, or if the facility's refusal is consistent with subsection (4) of this section.
RCW 74.04.015 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 04 / Section 015
RCW 74.04.015: Administration and disbursement of federal funds—Public assistance—Medical services programs.
Status: in_force

(1) The secretary of social and health services shall be the responsible state officer for the administration and disbursement of all funds, goods, commodities, and services, which may be received by the state in connection with programs of public assistance or services related directly or indirectly to assistance programs, and all other matters included in the federal social security act as amended, or any other federal act or as the same may be amended except as otherwise provided by law. (2) The director shall be the responsible state officer for the administration and disbursement of funds that the state receives in connection with the medical services programs established under chapter 74.09 RCW, including the state children's health insurance program, Titles XIX and XXI of the social security act of 1935, as amended, and programs established under chapter 71.05 , 71.24, and 71.34 RCW that are under the director's authority. (3) The department and the authority, as appropriate, shall make such reports and render such accounting as may be required by federal law.
RCW 74.31.020 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 31 / Section 020
RCW 74.31.020: Washington traumatic brain injury strategic partnership advisory council—Members—Expenses—Appointment—Duties.
Status: in_force

(1) The Washington traumatic brain injury strategic partnership advisory council is established as an advisory council to the governor, the legislature, and the secretary of the department of social and health services. (2) The council shall be composed of: (a) The following members who shall be appointed by the governor: (i) A representative from a Native American tribe located in Washington state; (ii) Two representatives from a nonprofit organization serving individuals with traumatic brain injury; (iii) An individual with expertise in working with children with traumatic brain injuries; (iv) A physician who has experience working with individuals with traumatic brain injuries; (v) A neuropsychologist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injuries; (vi) A social worker or clinical psychologist who has experience in working with persons who have sustained traumatic brain injuries; (vii) A rehabilitation specialist, such as a speech pathologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, occupational therapist, or physical therapist who has experience working with persons with traumatic brain injuries; (viii) Two persons who are individuals with a traumatic brain injury; (ix) Two persons who are family members of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; and (x) Two members of the public who have experience with issues related to the causes of traumatic brain injuries; and (b) The following agency members: (i) The secretary or the secretary's designee, and representatives from the following: The division of behavioral health and recovery services, the aging and disability services administration, and the division of vocational rehabilitation; (ii) The secretary of health or the secretary's designee; (iii) The secretary of corrections or the secretary's designee; (iv) The secretary of children, youth, and families or the secretary's designee; (v) A representative of the department of commerce with expertise in housing; (vi) A representative from the Washington state department of veterans affairs; (vii) A representative from the national guard; and (viii) The executive director of the Washington protection and advocacy system or the executive director's designee. (3) Councilmembers shall not be compensated for serving on the council, but may be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses related to costs incurred in participating in meetings for the council. (4) No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. (5) The appointed members of the council shall, to the extent possible, represent rural and urban areas of the state. (6) A chairperson shall be elected every two years by majority vote from among the councilmembers. The chairperson shall act as the presiding officer of the council. (7) The duties of the council include: (a) Collaborating with the department to develop and revise as needed a comprehensive statewide plan to address the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; (b) Providing recommendations to the department on criteria to be used to select programs facilitating support groups for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their families under RCW 74.31.050 ; (c) By January 15, 2013, and every two years thereafter, developing a report in collaboration with the department and submitting it to the legislature and the governor on the following: (i) Identifying the activities of the council in the implementation of the comprehensive statewide plan; (ii) Recommendations for the revisions to the comprehensive statewide plan; (iii) Recommendations for using the traumatic brain injury account established under RCW 74.31.060 to form strategic partnerships and to foster the development of services and supports for individuals impacted by traumatic brain injuries; and (iv) Recommendations for a council staffing plan for council support under RCW 74.31.030 . (8) The council may utilize the advice or services of a nationally recognized expert, or other individuals as the council deems appropriate, to assist the council in carrying out its duties under this section.
RCW 74.13.170 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 170
RCW 74.13.170: Therapeutic family home program for youth in custody under chapter 13.34 RCW.
Status: in_force

The department may, through performance-based contracts with agencies, implement a therapeutic family home program for up to fifteen youth in the custody of the department under chapter 13.34 RCW. The program shall strive to develop and maintain a mutually reinforcing relationship between the youth and the therapeutic staff associated with the program.
RCW 74.34.215 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 34 / Section 215
RCW 74.34.215: Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Status: in_force

(1) Pending an investigation by the financial institution, the department, or law enforcement, if a financial institution reasonably believes that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted, the financial institution may, but is not required to, refuse a transaction requiring disbursal of funds contained in the account: (a) Of the vulnerable adult; (b) On which the vulnerable adult is a beneficiary, including a trust or guardianship account; or (c) Of a person suspected of perpetrating financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. (2) A financial institution may also refuse to disburse funds under this section if the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office provides information to the financial institution demonstrating that it is reasonable to believe that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted. (3) A financial institution is not required to refuse to disburse funds when provided with information alleging that financial exploitation may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted, but may use its discretion to determine whether or not to refuse to disburse funds based on the information available to the financial institution. (4) A financial institution that refuses to disburse funds based on a reasonable belief that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted shall: (a) Make a reasonable effort to notify all parties authorized to transact business on the account orally or in writing; and (b) Report the incident to the adult protective services division of the department and local law enforcement. (5) Any refusal to disburse funds as authorized by this section based on the reasonable belief of a financial institution that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted will expire upon the sooner of: (a) Ten business days after the date on which the financial institution first refused to disburse the funds if the transaction involved the sale of a security or offer to sell a security, as defined in RCW 21.20.005 , unless sooner terminated by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; (b) Five business days after the date on which the financial institution first refused to disburse the funds if the transaction did not involve the sale of a security or offer to sell a security, as defined in RCW 21.20.005 , unless sooner terminated by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (c) The time when the financial institution is satisfied that the disbursement will not result in financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. (6) A court of competent jurisdiction may enter an order extending the refusal by the financial institution to disburse funds based on a reasonable belief that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted. A court of competent jurisdiction may also order other protective relief as authorized by RCW 7.40.010 and * 74.34.130 . (7) A financial institution or an employee of a financial institution is immune from criminal, civil, and administrative liability for refusing to disburse funds or disbursing funds under this section and for actions taken in furtherance of that determination if the determination of whether or not to disburse funds was made in good faith.
RCW 74.13A.005 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13A / Section 005
RCW 74.13A.005: Adoption support—State policy enunciated.
Status: in_force

It is the policy of this state to enable the secretary to charge fees for certain services to adoptive parents who are able to pay for such services. It is, however, also the policy of this state that the secretary of the department shall be liberal in waiving, reducing, or deferring payment of any such fee to the end that adoptions shall be encouraged in cases where prospective adoptive parents lack means. It is the policy of this state to encourage, within the limits of available funds, the adoption of certain hard to place children in order to make it possible for children living in, or likely to be placed in, foster homes or institutions to benefit from the stability and security of permanent homes in which such children can receive continuous parental care, guidance, protection, and love and to reduce the number of such children who must be placed or remain in foster homes or institutions until they become adults. It is also the policy of this state to try, by means of the program of adoption support authorized in RCW 26.33.320 and 74.13A.005 through 74.13A.080 , to reduce the total cost to the state of foster home and institutional care.
RCW 74.08.105 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 08 / Section 105
RCW 74.08.105: Out-of-state recipients.
Status: in_force

No assistance payments shall be made to recipients living outside the state of Washington unless in the discretion of the secretary there is sound social reason for such out-of-state payments: PROVIDED, That the period for making such payments when authorized shall not exceed the length of time required to satisfy the residence requirements in the other state in order to be eligible for a grant in the same category of assistance as the recipient was eligible to receive in Washington.
RCW 74.20A.035 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 20A / Section 035
RCW 74.20A.035: Augmentation of paternity establishment services.
Status: in_force

The department of social and health services shall augment its present paternity establishment services through the hiring of additional assistant attorneys general, or contracting with prosecutors or private attorneys licensed in the state of Washington in those judicial districts experiencing delay or an accumulation of unserved paternity cases. The employment of private attorneys shall be limited in scope to renewable six-month periods in judicial districts where the prosecutor or the attorney general cannot provide adequate, cost-effective service. The department of social and health services shall provide a written report of the circumstances requiring employment of private attorneys to the judiciary committees of the senate and house of representatives and provide copies of such reports to the office of the attorney general and to the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys.
RCW 74.13.805 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 805
RCW 74.13.805: Medicaid waiver services eligibility reporting.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall collaborate with the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services to determine the number of enrolled clients of the developmental disabilities administration of the department of social and health services ages 16 through 21 years old who are functionally eligible for medicaid waiver services, who are also defined as dependent children under chapter 13.34 RCW, and who may exit dependency proceedings under chapter 13.34 RCW after reaching the maximum age for dependent children. (2) By November 15th, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036 , the department shall submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of the legislature that provides the number of children and youth identified under subsection (1) of this section and other relevant information related to best serving these youth.
RCW 74.09.325 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 09 / Section 325
RCW 74.09.325: Reimbursement of a health care service provided through telemedicine or store and forward technology—Audio-only telemedicine.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) All managed care organizations contracted with the authority for the medicaid program shall reimburse a provider for a health care service provided to a covered person through telemedicine or store and forward technology if: (i) The managed care organization in which the covered person is enrolled provides coverage of the health care service when provided in person by the provider; (ii) The health care service is medically necessary; (iii) The health care service is a service recognized as an essential health benefit under section 1302(b) of the federal patient protection and affordable care act in effect on January 1, 2015; (iv) The health care service is determined to be safely and effectively provided through telemedicine or store and forward technology according to generally accepted health care practices and standards, and the technology used to provide the health care service meets the standards required by state and federal laws governing the privacy and security of protected health information; and (v) Beginning January 1, 2023, for audio-only telemedicine, the covered person has an established relationship with the provider. (b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, a managed care organization shall reimburse a provider for a health care service provided to a covered person through telemedicine the same amount of compensation the managed care organization would pay the provider if the health care service was provided in person by the provider. (ii) Hospitals, hospital systems, telemedicine companies, and provider groups consisting of eleven or more providers may elect to negotiate an amount of compensation for telemedicine services that differs from the amount of compensation for in-person services. (iii) For purposes of this subsection (1)(b), the number of providers in a provider group refers to all providers within the group, regardless of a provider's location. (iv) A rural health clinic shall be reimbursed for audio-only telemedicine at the rural health clinic encounter rate. (2) For purposes of this section, reimbursement of store and forward technology is available only for those services specified in the negotiated agreement between the managed care organization and health care provider. (3) An originating site for a telemedicine health care service subject to subsection (1) of this section includes a: (a) Hospital; (b) Rural health clinic; (c) Federally qualified health center; (d) Physician's or other health care provider's office; (e) Licensed or certified behavioral health agency; (f) Skilled nursing facility; (g) Home or any location determined by the individual receiving the service; or (h) Renal dialysis center, except an independent renal dialysis center. (4) Except for subsection (3)(g) of this section, any originating site under subsection (3) of this section may charge a facility fee for infrastructure and preparation of the patient. Reimbursement for a facility fee must be subject to a negotiated agreement between the originating site and the managed care organization. A distant site, a hospital that is an originating site for audio-only telemedicine, or any other site not identified in subsection (3) of this section may not charge a facility fee. (5) A managed care organization may not distinguish between originating sites that are rural and urban in providing the coverage required in subsection (1) of this section. (6) A managed care organization may subject coverage of a telemedicine or store and forward technology health service under subsection (1) of this section to all terms and conditions of the plan in which the covered person is enrolled including, but not limited to, utilization review, prior authorization, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance requirements that are applicable to coverage of a comparable health care service provided in person. (7) This section does not require a managed care organization to reimburse: (a) An originating site for professional fees; (b) A provider for a health care service that is not a covered benefit under the plan; or (c) An originating site or health care provider when the site or provider is not a contracted provider under the plan. (8)(a) If a provider intends to bill a patient or a managed care organization for an audio-only telemedicine service, the provider must obtain patient consent for the billing in advance of the service being delivered and comply with all rules created by the authority related to restrictions on billing medicaid recipients. The authority may submit information on any potential violations of this subsection to the appropriate disciplining authority, as defined in RCW 18.130.020 , or take contractual actions against the provider's agreement for participation in the medicaid program, or both. (b) If the health care authority has cause to believe that a provider has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of this subsection (8), the health care authority may submit information to the appropriate disciplining authority for action. Prior to submitting information to the appropriate disciplining authority, the health care authority may provide the provider with an opportunity to cure the alleged violations or explain why the actions in question did not violate this subsection (8). (c) If the provider has engaged in a pattern of unresolved violations of this subsection (8), the appropriate disciplining authority may levy a fine or cost recovery upon the provider in an amount not to exceed the applicable statutory amount per violation and take other action as permitted under the authority of the disciplining authority. Upon completion of its review of any potential violation submitted by the health care authority or initiated directly by an enrollee, the disciplining authority shall notify the health care authority of the results of the review, including whether the violation was substantiated and any enforcement action taken as a result of a finding of a substantiated violation. (9) For purposes of this section: (a)(i) "Audio-only telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of audio-only technology, permitting real-time communication between the patient at the originating site and the provider, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. (ii) For purposes of this section only, "audio-only telemedicine" does not include: (A) The use of facsimile or email; or (B) The delivery of health care services that are customarily delivered by audio-only technology and customarily not billed as separate services by the provider, such as the sharing of laboratory results; (b) "Disciplining authority" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.130.020 ; (c) "Distant site" means the site at which a physician or other licensed provider, delivering a professional service, is physically located at the time the service is provided through telemedicine; (d) "Established relationship" means the provider providing audio-only telemedicine has access to sufficient health records to ensure safe, effective, and appropriate care services and: (i) The covered person has had, within the past three years, at least one in-person appointment, or at least one real-time interactive appointment using both audio and video technology, with the provider providing audio-only telemedicine or with a provider employed at the same medical group, at the same clinic, or by the same integrated delivery system operated by a carrier licensed under chapter 48.44 or 48.46 RCW as the provider providing audio-only telemedicine; or (ii) The covered person was referred to the provider providing audio-only telemedicine by another provider who has had, within the past three years, at least one in-person appointment, or at least one real-time interactive appointment using both audio and video technology, with the covered person and has provided relevant medical information to the provider providing audio-only telemedicine; (e) "Health care service" has the same meaning as in RCW 48.43.005 ; (f) "Hospital" means a facility licensed under chapter 70.41 , 71.12, or 72.23 RCW; (g) "Originating site" means the physical location of a patient receiving health care services through telemedicine; (h) "Provider" has the same meaning as in RCW 48.43.005 ; (i) "Store and forward technology" means use of an asynchronous transmission of a covered person's medical information from an originating site to the health care provider at a distant site which results in medical diagnosis and management of the covered person, and does not include the use of audio-only telephone, facsimile, or email; and (j) "Telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services through the use of interactive audio and video technology, permitting real-time communication between the patient at the originating site and the provider, for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment. For purposes of this section only, "telemedicine" includes audio-only telemedicine, but does not include facsimile or email.
RCW 74.15.040 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 15 / Section 040
RCW 74.15.040: Licenses for foster family homes required—Inspections.
Status: in_force

An agency seeking to accept and serve children, developmentally disabled persons, or expectant mothers as a foster family home shall make application for license in such form and substance as required by the department. The department shall maintain a list of applicants through which placement may be undertaken. However, agencies and the department shall not place a child, developmentally disabled person, or expectant mother in a home until the home is licensed. The department shall inquire whether an applicant has previously resided in any other state or foreign country and shall check databases available to it through the Washington state patrol and federal bureau of investigation to ascertain whether the applicant has ever been the subject of a conviction or civil finding outside of the state of Washington that bears upon the fitness of the applicant to serve as a foster family home. Foster family homes shall be inspected prior to licensure, except that inspection by the department is not required if the foster family home is under the supervision of a licensed agency upon certification to the department by the licensed agency that such homes meet the requirements for foster homes as adopted pursuant to chapter 74.15 RCW and RCW 74.13.031 .
RCW 74.15.120 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 15 / Section 120
RCW 74.15.120: Initial licenses.
Status: in_force

The secretary may, at his or her discretion, issue an initial license instead of a full license, to an agency or facility for a period not to exceed six months, renewable for a period not to exceed two years, to allow such agency or facility reasonable time to become eligible for full license. An initial license shall not be granted to any foster family home except as specified in this section. An initial license may be granted to a foster family home only if the following three conditions are met: (1) The license is limited so that the licensee is authorized to provide care only to a specific child or specific children; (2) the department has determined that the licensee has a relationship with the child, and the child is comfortable with the licensee, or that it would otherwise be in the child's best interest to remain or be placed in the licensee's home; and (3) the initial license is issued for a period not to exceed ninety days.
RCW 74.12.900 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 12 / Section 900
RCW 74.12.900: Welfare reform implementation—1994 c 299.
Status: in_force

The revisions to the temporary assistance for needy families program and job opportunities and basic skills training program shall be implemented by the department of social and health services on a statewide basis.
RCW 74.46.024 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 46 / Section 024
RCW 74.46.024: Pay-for-performance supplemental payment structure—Establishing procedures, principles, and conditions.
Status: in_force

The department shall establish, by rule, the procedures, principles, and conditions for a pay-for-performance supplemental payment structure that provides payment add-ons for high performing facilities. To the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, the pay-for-performance structure will include a one percent reduction in payments to facilities with exceptionally high direct care staff turnover, and a method by which the funding that is not paid to these facilities is then used to provide a supplemental payment to facilities with lower direct care staff turnover.
RCW 74.13.280 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 13 / Section 280
RCW 74.13.280: Client information.
Status: in_force

(1) Except as provided in RCW 70.02.220 , whenever a child is placed in out-of-home care by the department or with an agency, the department or agency shall share information known to the department or agency about the child and the child's family with the care provider and shall consult with the care provider regarding the child's case plan. If the child is dependent pursuant to a proceeding under chapter 13.34 RCW, the department or agency shall keep the care provider informed regarding the dates and location of dependency review and permanency planning hearings pertaining to the child. (2) Information about the child and the child's family shall include information known to the department or agency as to whether the child is a sexually reactive child, has exhibited high-risk behaviors, or is physically assaultive or physically aggressive, as defined in this section. (3) Information about the child shall also include information known to the department or agency that the child: (a) Has received a medical diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome or fetal alcohol effect; (b) Has been diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional as having a mental health disorder; (c) Has witnessed a death or substantial physical violence in the past or recent past; or (d) Was a victim of sexual or severe physical abuse in the recent past. (4) Any person who receives information about a child or a child's family pursuant to this section shall keep the information confidential and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as authorized by law. Care providers shall agree in writing to keep the information that they receive confidential and shall affirm that the information will not be further disclosed or disseminated, except as authorized by law. (5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the department or an agency to disclose client information or to maintain client confidentiality as provided by law. (6) The department may share the following mental health treatment records with a care provider, even if the child does not consent to releasing those records, if the department has initiated treatment pursuant to RCW 71.34.600 through 71.34.670 : (a) Diagnosis; (b) Treatment plan and progress in treatment; (c) Recommended medications, including risks, benefits, side effects, typical efficacy, dose, and schedule; (d) Psychoeducation about the child's mental health; (e) Referrals to community resources; (f) Coaching on parenting or behavioral management strategies; and (g) Crisis prevention planning and safety planning. (7) The department may not share substance use disorder treatment records with a care provider without the written consent of the child except as permitted by federal law. (8) For the purposes of this section: (a) "Sexually reactive child" means a child who exhibits sexual behavior problems including, but not limited to, sexual behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate for their age or are harmful to the child or others. (b) "High-risk behavior" means an observed or reported and documented history of one or more of the following: (i) Suicide attempts or suicidal behavior or ideation; (ii) Self-mutilation or similar self-destructive behavior; (iii) Fire-setting or a developmentally inappropriate fascination with fire; (iv) Animal torture; (v) Property destruction; or (vi) Substance or alcohol abuse. (c) "Physically assaultive or physically aggressive" means a child who exhibits one or more of the following behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate and harmful to the child or to others: (i) Observed assaultive behavior; (ii) Reported and documented history of the child willfully assaulting or inflicting bodily harm; or (iii) Attempting to assault or inflict bodily harm on other children or adults under circumstances where the child has the apparent ability or capability to carry out the attempted assaults including threats to use a weapon. (d) "Care provider" means a person with whom a child is placed in out-of-home care, or a designated official for a group care facility licensed by the department.
RCW 74.08A.035 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 08A / Section 035
RCW 74.08A.035: Income eligibility—Child support.
Status: in_force

The department shall disregard and not count as income any amount of current child support passed through to applicants or recipients pursuant to RCW 26.23.035 in determining eligibility for and the amount of temporary assistance for needy families or WorkFirst.
RCW 74.39A.433 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 433
RCW 74.39A.433: Continuing education for long-term care workers work group.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall convene a work group to review existing available continuing education courses offered to long-term care workers under RCW 74.39A.341 and provide input and recommendations for the inclusion of topics relevant to individual providers caring for a family member to be incorporated into the development of new continuing education courses. The work group must consist of stakeholders with an interest in the continuing education training requirements for individual providers, including individual providers who are caregivers to a family member with an intellectual or developmental disability, individual providers who are adult children who are caregivers to a parent, the contracted training entity providing continuing education to long-term care workers, and consumers receiving care from an individual provider who is a family member. (2) The department shall convene the work group by July 1, 2024, and the work group shall provide recommendations for the development of new courses to the secretary and the contracted training entity by March 1, 2025. By July 1, 2025, the contracted training entity shall submit a continuing education training course development plan that includes a specific timeline for the incorporation of topics identified in subsection (1) of this section to the secretary and the relevant committees of the legislature. Beginning September 1, 2025, the contracted training entity shall prioritize the development of courses that address the topics identified in subsection (1) of this section and the continuing education course development plan when it conducts its next scheduled continuing education course update and development for long-term care workers. The contracted training entity shall continue the development of new courses that address the recommended topics identified in subsection (1) of this section and the continuing education course development plan in its regular continuing education course development.
RCW 74.39A.310 — Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 39A / Section 310
RCW 74.39A.310: Contract for individual home care services providers—Cost of change in wages and benefits funded or increase in labor rates.
Status: in_force

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6019-S.SL ) ***

(1) The department shall convert and distribute any change in the total amount of wages and benefits negotiated and funded in the contract for individual providers of home care services pursuant to RCW 74.39A.270 and 74.39A.300 or labor rates established under RCW 74.39A.530 into a per-quarter-hour amount. This must be accomplished in each odd-numbered year within sixty days after adjournment sine die of the legislative session. (2) The per-quarter-hour amount shall be added to or subtracted from the statewide home care agency vendor rate and any increase shall be used exclusively for improving the wages and benefits of home care agency workers who provide direct care, and for paying any resulting change in required employer contributions or premiums. (3) When determining the per-quarter-hour amount, the department must include: (a) The changes to wages, benefits, and compensation negotiated and funded each biennium, including but not limited to: (i) Wages; (ii) Benefit pay, such as vacation, sick, and holiday pay; (iii) Mileage; (iv) Contributions to a training partnership; (v) Contributions to the health benefit trust; and (vi) Contributions to the defined contribution retirement trust; and (b) The change in the average costs experienced by medicaid contracted home care agencies, as determined by the department in its sole discretion, of employer contributions or premiums required by law including, but not limited to: (i) Federal insurance contributions act; (ii) Federal unemployment tax act; (iii) State unemployment tax authority; (iv) State paid family medical leave act; and (v) State workers' compensation system; and (c) An adjustment, as determined by the department in its sole discretion, for cost of compensation for work time that may not be billed as service hours, such as travel time, that must be paid to direct service workers under wage and hour laws and any related employer tax contributions or premiums. (4) The portion of the vendor rate calculated for health care benefits, including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision benefits, may only be used for health benefits for home care agency workers who provide direct care. (5) When establishing the per-quarter-hour amount, the department must prevent duplicate accounting for the same cost.