Fact Sheet: Raising Revenue to Ensure Quality Nursing Home Care

SB 6751 / HB 3021

In 2009 the Washington Legislature cut nursing home rates by 7 percent. These cuts could have led to as many as 1500 nursing home workers being laid off, and undermined the quality care for vulnerable residents. The cuts have temporarily not gone into effect because of a lawsuit, but the risk remains great for providers, workers, and residents.

SB 6751 / HB 3021 creates a dedicated funding source to prevent cuts to nursing home funding. The legislation establishes a Quality Assurance Fee on nursing homes, and uses that fee to draw down additional federal revenue through Medicaid. The money would be placed in a Quality Assurance Trust Fund that could only be used for nursing home funding.

Facts About the Nursing Home Quality Assurance Fee:

• This bill would raise $43 million for nursing homes.
• The House and Senate bills both were introduced with strong bi-partisan support.
• The legislation exempts small nursing homes (under 35 beds), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), state and county-owned homes, and hospital based facilities
• Funding for all but two nursing homes in the state would increase under this proposal. Both of those homes are owned by chains that will see overall increase in funding under this proposal.
• Nursing homes may not establish a separate line-item charge to pass along the fee to private pay residents

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