HCAOA Washington Chapter Legislative and Regulatory Update

​HCAOA has been meeting virtually and in-person with legislators in preparation for the upcoming session. The Joint Legislative Executive Committee meeting on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues on last week was informative. The new legislative session begins January 9, 2023.
 
2023 In-Home Services Day is being planned for February 1, 2023. 

Currently, the HCAOA In-Home Services Day at the Capitol talking points are:

• Address Workforce Shortages for Home Care Aides and Certified Nursing Assistants: Testing and certification for certified nursing assistants (CNA) and home care aides (HCA) has been very inconsistent, creating huge backups in WA State. We need a plan to enable students to get tested and certified, quickly, and efficiently, to get them into our long-term care settings, including home care.

• Support DOH Proposal to Eliminate Debt for Home Care Aides - Concerns with Certification Fee Increases: Home care aides are some of the lowest paid jobs in health care. Although we support eliminating over $6 million in debt to the home care aide program, we would like the legislature to explore ways to assist these workers to gain certification without increasing their fees as it will be an additional barrier to entry into the health care system.

​Last week, Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Department of Health (DOH) hosted a virtual Home Care Aides stakeholder engagement session.
 
DOH is considering a fee increase for home care, but a decision will not be made until 2023. HCAOA’s Washington Chapter has expressed concerns to DOH and to legislators about the barrier it poses to entry into the health care system and submitted testimony at this public hearing.                
 
HCAOA also met with the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) to discuss the problems and delays in testing for certified nursing assistants (CNAs), mass testing for Nursing Assistants, and the upcoming Nursing Assistant Rules Workshops.
 
Mass testing for nursing assistants continues through the Credentia website. For information, email nac.exam@doh.wa.gov.
 
The Nursing Assistant Rules Workshops is below.
To join workshops, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6555701680 the day & time of meeting.

• Thursday, December 29, 2022, 1-3 p.m.
  • WAC 246-841-440: Common Curriculum
• Friday, January 13, 2023, 1-3 p.m.
  • WAC 246-841-465 thru 490: Complaints, Investigations, Corrective Action Designations, Withdrawal of Approval, Appeals, Closure, Re-Application
• Friday, January 27, 2023, 1-3 p.m.
  • WAC 246-841-586 thru 595: Medication Assistant Certification Endorsement (MACE) Programs
  • WAC 246-841-530 thru 585: Alternative Programs
• Friday, February 10, 2023, 1-3 p.m.
  • WAC 246-841-600, 720, 990, 991:  Violations, Mandatory Reporting, Fees and Renewal Cycle, Expired Credential

 
While Washington’s emergency protocols about COVID-19 have been lifted, general safety requirements and guidance remain in place. View the complete Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) requirements and guidance here.