July 17, 2014_ ALF "Dear Administrator" Letters

July 17, 2014

ALTSA: ALF #2014-007 
PERMANENT RULE TO CHAPTER 388-78A WAC

Dear Assisted Living Facility Administrators and Interested Parties:

RCS has completed the formal rulemaking process to add and/or amend specific sections of WAC chapters 388-78A for Assisted Living Facilities related to consolidated background checks.  ALTSA is consolidating the crimes included in its various WAC chapters into a separate WAC chapter.  As a result our program WACs needed to have the crimes removed. Negative actions will remain in our chapters but have been amended to provide clarifying language.

In August 2013, RCS informed you of the filing of a CR 101 to begin the permanent rule adoption process. There were no comments received on the draft rules.  In February 2014, RCS filed the CR-102 and proposed amendments to Chapter 388-78A WAC with the Office of the Code Reviser.

The Department notified providers and interested stakeholders about the filing of the CR-102 and proposed amendments, including information about the hearing and the ability to provide written comments. The proposed rules were adopted as final.

On April 22, 2014 a Public Hearing was conducted in which comments were received from the Northwest Justice Project and SEIU.  The proposed rules were adopted as final.

The Department recently filed the CR-103P (WSR 14-14--031) with the Office of the Code Reviser. It may take 2-3 months before the code reviser will be able to post these to the website. You can access the rules at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa

If you have any questions, please contact your local RCS Field Manager. Thank you for your continued commitment to the long-term care residents of our state.

Sincerely,

Carl I. Walters II., Director
Residential Care Services