Latest news with #DepartmentofSocialandHealthServices
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington's long-term care program nears liftoff
(Getty Images) A year from now, Washington will launch the nation's first full-scale effort to help the state's workforce afford long-term care and services as they age. Etched into law in 2019, the public long-term care insurance program known as WA Cares survived an attempt to torpedo it at the ballot box last year. Already, $2 billion in tax collections have been banked in the program's trust fund through the end of March. Lawmakers continue to fine-tune the program ahead of its rollout next summer. This past legislative session brought revisions intended to welcome back thousands of people who opted out of the program and to unite the state-run, worker-funded entitlement with private long-term care insurers. 'It's a test case for the nation. It's going to be amazing when we roll it out,' said Cathy Knight, state director of the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging. 'We've needed something like this for a long time. It's not perfect. But for people going through a difficult time, it will be a tremendous help.' Other states are watching. Like Washington, they face rising costs of care for an aging population, tight state budgets and uncertainties around federal support for Medicaid, said Ben Veghte, director of WA Cares for the Department of Social and Health Services. 'Nobody wants to leave families unprotected dealing with this risk,' he said. 'This is seen by many states as a promising model.' WA Cares is funded with a 0.58% tax on the paychecks of workers in Washington. It amounts to just under $25 a month for those earning $50,000 a year, rising to $39 a month for those making $80,000 annually. Collections by the state began in July 2023. A person pays as long as they are working in the state. Deductions stop if they retire, become unemployed or leave the workforce, and resume if the person returns to work. Beginning on July 1, 2026, those living in Washington who qualify can begin accessing the long-term care benefit, which has a lifetime cap of $36,500, adjusted over time for inflation. Eligible beneficiaries living out of state can tap into benefits starting July 1, 2030. The money can be used to offset expenses like in-home caretaking, respite for family caregivers, equipment, medication and meals for people who are older, injured or disabled. In all, 19 different types of services are covered. There are two paths to becoming eligible for the full benefit amount – contribute for 10 years or pay in for three years within the last six from the date they apply for benefits. Near-retirees, defined as those born before 1968, who do not become eligible for the full amount will earn a pro-rated share of 10% for each year they work. A person must work at least 500 hours during the year to earn a qualifying year. Not every worker is in the program. Before the state started collecting payroll taxes — deemed premiums by the state — those with qualifying private long-term care insurance could opt out. An estimated 413,000 individuals chose this option, according to the Employment Security Department. This program has faced criticism since its inception. Some objected to its mandatory nature. Others said it was unfair that if someone stopped working for a while, then returned, they lost credit for the contributions made before the break. Critics and supporters said there should be exemptions for people who work in Washington but live out of state. And there was pressure to make the benefits 'portable,' so if a person moved out of state after paying into the fund, they would be able to access the benefits. As the pile of concerns grew, the Legislature passed a law in January 2022 delaying the start of payroll tax collections and delivery of benefits by 18 months, providing time to retool in response to critiques. Changes made since then allow older workers nearing retirement to get partial benefits. The list of exemptions expanded to include people who live outside of Washington but work in the state, spouses of active-duty military service members, those with non-immigrant work visas, and veterans who meet certain disability requirements. Meanwhile, Let's Go Washington, a conservative political committee, capitalized on the frustrations in 2023, gathering 424,000 voter signatures to put an initiative targeting the program on the ballot. That measure, which was in front of voters last November, sought to make participation voluntary rather than mandatory, allowing workers to opt out whenever they want. Voters defeated Initiative 2124. As the political fight played out, lawmakers made more revisions. Some seemed to come in direct response to concerns raised by program critics. Almost all reflected recommendations of the Long Term Services and Supports Commission, the panel of legislators, agency representatives and community members tasked with monitoring and implementing the program. A law passed in 2024 makes the benefit available for those who leave the state if they've paid into the fund during their career. And a few weeks ago, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5291, which makes several notable alterations. It allows workers to rescind their private insurance exemptions and opt in. The period to rescind exemptions starts Jan. 1, 2026 and ends July 1, 2028. CONTACT US State officials said they've heard from people who are interested because premiums for their policies have increased. Others said that the array of changes, such as making it possible to use benefits outside of Washington, made it worth joining. The new law assures people who get out of the workforce for any period of time will resume building credit toward full eligibility when they return. It also provides automatic exemptions for active-duty military members with off-duty civilian work and non-immigrant visa holders. And it opens a path for private insurers to create supplemental long-term care insurance policies designed for individuals with WA Cares benefits. This is expected to result in options for long-term care that are more affordable. As envisioned, WA Cares benefits would cover the deductible of the private plan. So when an individual uses up their benefits, the supplemental private plan they purchase will kick in. Private plans will need approval by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. There will be some requirements for the private plans. They must provide at least 12 months of coverage after WA Cares benefits are exhausted and allow people to keep their current care providers when transitioning between programs. The policies must also include options to reduce benefits rather than lose coverage if someone becomes unable to pay increased premiums, and they must cover care provided by qualified family members. Finally, the new law clears the way to test the system for managing eligibility and paying providers. Up to 400 people in four counties — Thurston, Mason, Lewis and Spokane — are to be part of a pilot program that would run from Jan. 1, 2026 up until the formal launch. There's much work to be done in the next 13 months. Veghte is convinced the payoff will be felt across the state. Aging is a phase of life 'when we're all extremely vulnerable. I've seen it with both my parents how vulnerable you can become when you're frail and can't live independently,' he said. 'Having a pot of money the family can use to support that person in those times is a tremendous improvement in the quality of life for aging Washingtonians.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Construction picking up at new Washington psychiatric hospital
A rendering shows the design of the new Western State Hospital, set to be completed between 2027 and 2029. (Image courtesy of HOK Architecture) Construction is ramping up at a new state psychiatric hospital as Washington works to meet continued demand for treatment of people accused of crimes. The state broke ground in October on the new 350-bed facility at Western State Hospital in Pierce County. Work began in December, but picked up last month and passersby will start to see the building develop in June, said state Department of Social and Health Services spokesperson Jessica Nelson. For years, the Department of Social and Health Services has been under court oversight to improve unconstitutionally long wait times for mental health treatment and evaluations for criminal defendants who are incompetent to stand trial. The new hospital is key to complying with a court-ordered settlement in the case known as Trueblood. Washington is required to conduct an evaluation within 14 days and offer inpatient competency restoration treatment within seven days. The state has long struggled to meet those guidelines and has paid hundreds of millions in fines as a result. At the groundbreaking for the new hospital in October, then-Gov. Jay Inslee noted the rise in need for these services over the past few years. 'This exponential growth was not sustainable unless we really put pedal to the metal on our building programs with what we're doing today,' Inslee said. 'So we have invested tremendous resources to respond to this tremendous challenge.' In February, the most recent month for which comprehensive state data is available, the average wait time for a jail-based evaluation was about 11 days. Inpatient evaluations took five to six days. Admissions for treatment took nearly seven days at Eastern State Hospital, near Spokane, and less than six days at Western State. In years past, this could take over a year. The new Western State Hospital will be the latest addition to the state's bed capacity. In 2023, the state acquired and opened a psychiatric hospital in Tukwila for patients under civil commitments, freeing up space for criminal defendants at Western State. Last year, the state added another 86 beds at Eastern and Western State hospitals. In their capital budget passed last weekend, state lawmakers included $282 million for the final phase of construction at the new hospital. The budget now sits on Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk. The hospital is aiming to help shift the focus at Western State more toward people entangled in the criminal justice system who need treatment and away from civil patients. Under that system, civil commitments would transfer to community-based facilities to get help. Construction is expected to be completed between 2027 and 2029. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Washington law adds certification requirement for dementia care
(Getty Images) Services for people with dementia at assisted living facilities will have to meet new state standards across Washington under a law Gov. Bob Ferguson signed on Wednesday. Senate Bill 5337, would require assisted living facilities to be certified by July 1, 2026, to care for people with dementia. This certificate is intended to help ensure the health and safety of residents, transparency for families, and appropriate training for staff. The Department of Social and Health Services would be required to create, manage and enforce the certification process. This bill 'brings a baseline level of consistency to the definition for memory care,' said Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director at AARP. Facilities do not have to use terms such as 'memory care facility' or 'specialized dementia care' to be considered a memory care facility. Under the new certification, facilities would be required to maintain staff onsite 24 hours a day and provide staff with at least six hours of continuing education. A publicly available list of certified assisted living facilities specializing in memory care or that have memory care units would have to be maintained by the Department of Social and Health Services. The department would also conduct regular inspections to ensure the facilities comply with state law. Facilities that do not comply could face civil penalties. Memory care or specialized dementia care services vary across the 237 assisted living facilities in Washington, according to an informal study by the state's Dementia Action Collaborative in 2021. This can make it difficult for individuals and families to understand the services and staffing that facilities offer. 'If a facility wants to say that they're providing memory care, they have to meet just some basic requirements,' MacCaul said. MacCaul said the bill was modeled after Medicaid definitions to ensure consistency. Older adults could outnumber children under age 18 for the first time in U.S. history by 2034, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections. 'We have to shift the way we think about all of our systems and make sure that we have adequate consumer protections, consumer awareness and transparency,' MacCaul said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of murdering Seattle dog walker ruled unfit to stand trial
The Brief Jahmed Haynes, accused of murdering 80-year-old Ruth Dalton and her dog, faces competency challenges in court, with a recent report indicating he cannot assist in his defense due to mental health issues. Ruth Dalton's granddaughter, Melanie Roberts, expresses frustration with the judicial system and seeks justice, hoping Haynes is permanently removed from the streets. A 90-day restoration period is set for Haynes, with a subsequent court hearing scheduled for July 24th. SEATTLE - The man accused of murdering a beloved 80-year-old dog walker in Seattle last August was back in court on Thursday, where a judge ruled he was not competent to stand trial. Just as she has been for all the other hearings, Ruth Dalton's granddaughter Melanie Roberts was back at the courthouse once again. "It's been eight months, and we're no better off now than we were eight months ago when they arrested him," Roberts said. The backstory Court documents show Jahmed Haynes reportedly carjacked Dalton as she was walking dogs in the neighborhood. Investigators say he dragged her with her own car before running her over. Haynes is also charged with animal cruelty for killing Dalton's dog. "He disgusts me, to make the decisions that he made, it disgusts me. It saddens me," Roberts said. "I'm mad at the court, and our state and the judicial system that he was out on the streets to begin with." Back in December, Haynes was found competent to stand trial, but earlier this month the Department of Social and Health Services reported that was no longer the case. They outlined their reasonings in a 10-page report. "It gives the court a lot of information including a description of the evaluation that was conducted, clinical history," the judge said. Dig deeper Haynes appeared in court dressed in a red jumpsuit. The judge ruled our cameras were not allowed to show his face to preserve his right to a fair trial. "Based on this report and the information that is contained in it, I agree with the evaluator that Mr. Haynes lacks the ability to assist in his own defense," the Judge said. "Obviously there are some barriers listed here, and the report lists medications to restore competency." That decision comes after Seattle Police had previously said the 48-year-old has eight prior felonies and a history of mental health concerns. For Roberts, the last eight months have been difficult, to say the least. "It was her first birthday without her, our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. It was my first birthday without her, my daughter's in a couple of weeks. It's been a lot of hard firsts that will be for the rest of our lives now," Roberts said. All she wants now is justice for her grandma. She described what justice looks like to her. "It looks like he never breathes free air again, he's incarcerated for the rest of his life, I don't care if that's in prison or in a mental institution, but he needs to be off the streets," she said. What's next A 90-day restoration period has been set. Then, another court hearing is scheduled for July 24. The Source Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter Shirah Matsuzawa. Othello, WA woman's arrest sparks national debate on immigration enforcement Passenger removed from Seattle plane after making 'inappropriate comment' Jeffrey Zizz charged in kidnapping, murder of WA grandmother How to watch, stream 2025 NFL Draft WA caregiver charged with sexually assaulting disabled teen 'Assault of any kind is disturbing': Seattle bar brawl suspect arraigned To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dementia care facilities would have to meet new state standards under WA bill
(Getty Images) Washington lawmakers are looking at requiring assisted living facilities to be certified to take care of people with dementia. Senate Bill 5337, sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, would require the Department of Social and Health Services to create, manage and enforce a certification process for licensed assisted living facilities. 'This bill is around supporting people as they age and supporting families and giving the Department of Social and Health Services the tools they need for that work,' Orwall said. In 2021, an informal study by the state's Dementia Action Collaborative found there were about 237 assisted living facilities in Washington that advertised memory care or specialized dementia care, but their services varied. 'Currently there are about 126,000 seniors in Washington with Alzheimer's disease, which is about 10% of the population 65 and up and that number is growing every day,' said Brad Forbes from the Alzheimer's Association. The lack of standardized care can make it difficult for individuals or families to understand the services and staffing that facilities offer. 'The challenge exists when the individual gives their trust and significant payments, sometimes $10,000 a month, for what they think is comprehensive care designed for a person experiencing cognitive decline,' said Joanna Grist, a lobbyist for AARP. The bill would require these facilities to maintain staff onsite 24 hours a day, to have at least six hours of continuing education for workers per year related to dementia-related behaviors such as aggression, and provide to patients with individual and group activities. A memory care facility is defined as one that is devoted specifically to that type of care or that offers a special unit or wing for those with dementia. They help people with housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry and activities. Under the bill, the department would have to maintain a publicly available list of certified assisted living facilities that specialize in memory care or have memory care units. They would also review facilities' compliance with state law and conduct regular inspections. Facilities that are out of compliance could face civil penalties. The Senate passed the bill 49-0 last month, and it's now moving along in the House. If approved, the bill would require assisted living facilities to be certified by July 1, 2026. 'As we age, we want everyone to get the care they need and deserve,' Orwall said.
