DDA Nursing Services
- Nurse Delegation (all ages)
Nurse Delegation allows a non-nurse to legally perform nursing tasks, such as giving medication. With Nurse Delegation, a Long-Term Care Worker is delegated by a registered nurse to provide tasks that are usually performed only by a licensed nurse. State law requires that when a task is delegated, specific rules are followed by both the delegating nurse and caregiver who performs the task. The rules are written by the Washington State Board of Nursing to ensure public safety.
Nurse Delegation Policy | Find a Nurse Delegator
- Waiver Skilled Nursing Services (adults age 21 or older)
Waiver Skilled Nursing is provided by independent nurses who are contracted with DDA to provide long term, intermittent, or hourly skilled nursing tasks. A client must be enrolled in a DDA Waiver and over the age of 21 to be eligible. Nursing Services Fact Sheet
- Private Duty Nursing (adults age 18 and older)
Private Duty Nursing provides in-home skilled nursing care to Medicaid clients 18 years of age or older who have complex medical needs like ventilators, tracheostomies, feeding tubes, complex respiratory treatments, or continuous IV infusions and require skilled nursing care on a continuous and daily basis. The PDN program is designed to support clients and their families who must assume a portion of the client’s care. PDN hours are determined by the DDA Nursing Care Consultant, up to 16 hours per day. Find a Private Duty Nurse
If you have questions related to DDA Nursing Services, please email: DDANursingServices@dshs.wa.gov
Health Home
Health Home is a network of services that provide coordination of primary, mental health and long-term services and supports. Health home is focused on serving individuals with one or more chronic health condition who have been determined as frequent utilizers of emergency services and hospitalization, thus identified as high-risk/high-cost Medicaid clients. For more information, visit Washington Health Care Authority’s Health Home.
Services Not Covered by Medicaid or Insurance
If you have been assessed to need professional services beyond what you can get through Medicaid and private health insurance (if you have it), you may be able to get professional services that include:
- Nursing provided by a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN)
- Therapeutic services, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy or communication therapy
- Behavior management or counseling
- Medical and psychiatric evaluations
- Professional services are available only after Medicaid and any other available private health insurance have been accessed.
Additional Resources
DDA Caregiver Bulletins
Medicare Reimbursement Program
Premium Payment Program