2007-09 Biennial Budget Approved

On April 22nd the Legislature approved the 2007-09 Biennial Budget. Throughout the session Chapter advocates contacted legislators to garner support for the priorities contained in our 2007 Public Policy Platform. Although some of the requests received moderate success (see below), we still have a great deal of work to do. If you are interested in learning more about our advocacy efforts or would like to join our team of advocates please click here. 

Budget provisions addressing Chapter priorities include:

• Funding provided to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development to continue the Long Term Care Ombudsman Adult Family Home Initiative.
  
  
• Development of an online caregiver assessment tool, and expansion of family support and respite services to accommodate 1,060 additional clients.
  
  
• Increasing Medicaid payment rates for boarding homes and assisted living facilities by 6.0 percent in FY 2008 and by an additional 2.0 percent in FY 2009.
  
  
• Increasing Medicaid payment rates for adult family homes by 3.2 percent in FY 2008 and by an additional 2.0 percent in FY 2009.  Funding is also provided to implement SHB 2111, which provides for collective bargaining between the Governor and a statewide unit of adult family home providers under the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act, and provides for negotiated rule-making with a statewide unit of adult family home licensees under the Administrative Procedures Act. Additional increases in Medicaid payment rates in FY 2009 will be subject to this collective bargaining. (The chapter platform does not address the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act.)
  
  
• Funding for expanding by 100 beds the number of boarding homes that receive exceptional care rates for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who might otherwise require nursing home care.  Effective July 1, 2008, the department is authorized to provide enhanced rates to up to 50 beds in adult family homes that specialize in caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. (The chapter platform does not address dementia beds in adult family homes.)
  
  
• Funding and staff provided to the Office of the Administrator for the Courts for implementation of SSB 5320, which creates an Office of Public Guardianship as an independent agency of the judiciary to provide guardianship services to low income individuals who have been determined by the court to need the services of a guardian.