Informal Dispute Resolution

Learn how providers can request an IDR review and find forms, guidelines, and volunteer opportunities for IDR panels.

Residential Care Services is a division of the Home and Community Living Administration. In addition to regulating facilities licensed and/or certified to provide care to vulnerable adults, RCS also offers an independent review for providers who have been issued citations and/or enforcement actions. This process is called Informal Dispute Resolution, referred to as IDR and was offered to all provider types when it became law in 2002.

Initially, the Informal Dispute Resolution process involved a review by the Field Manager responsible for supervising the RCS staff person who issued the citation or enforcement. In 2007, RCS centralized the process, hiring two Informal Dispute Resolution Program Managers to conduct the reviews. 

The division established policies restricting participation of staff who had been involved in making the original decision to issue a citation and/or fine. This current process has been in place since that time. For additional questions, please contact us at RCSIDR@dshs.wa.gov

 

Facility IDR Information

Adult Family Home IDRs

In November of 2019, RCS began a six-month pilot in which a voluntary panel system was recruited to conduct IDRs. The pilot was successful based on evaluation and feedback from participants and stakeholders, resulting in a permanent change in the Adult Family Home Informal Dispute Resolution process. (Refer to Dear Provider Letter AFH# 2020-047)

Informal Dispute Resolution Program will continue to use the panel process for Adult Family Home IDRs, and it will also provide the option for a provider to choose the previous traditional process (meeting one-on-one with an IDR Program Manager).

**Volunteers are required to make the Informal Dispute Resolution panel a continued success. The Informal Dispute Resolution unit is continuing to accept applications for volunteers. If you are a provider or consumer interested in participating on an Adult Family Home Informal Dispute Resolution Panel, please submit a brief letter of your interest along with a volunteer application.

You can submit documents to:

The IDR unit will be collecting IDR panel application materials on an ongoing basis. 

If you have questions regarding this opportunity, please contact
 Laci Traulsen
Volunteer Coordinator
(360) 725-3218

 

Related Documents

Assisted Living Facility IDRs
Enhanced Service Facility IDRs
Nursing Home IDRs

In August 2022, Residential Care Services launched a pilot project using a panel rather than specialized RCS staff for Nursing Home IDRs.

Panel Volunteers are Critical to the Project’s Success

The panel convenes monthly and will include one nursing home provider, one Residential Care Services staff, one service consumer (for example, a resident, resident representative, ombudsman etc.) and a panel chair.

Residential Care Services is looking for Nursing Home Administrators or Nurse Managers with clinical experience and a good working knowledge of skilled nursing facility regulations and interpretive guidelines to volunteer for the panel. We are also looking for residents, resident representatives, family members or ombuds to serve as consumer representatives. People who serve on the panel must:

  • Attend Informal Dispute Resolution Training.
  • Become familiar with and understand the skilled nursing facility regulations.
  • Commit one day each month for Informal Dispute Resolution panel review meetings.
  • Commit to reviewing confidential materials to prepare for the IDR review meeting.
  • Listen to provider and Residential Care Services staff presentations.
  • Make impartial recommendations based on information given during written and verbal presentations.

Recruitment for these appointments are ongoing.

Stakeholders and Residential Care Services staff will review the panel process for effectiveness and implementation.

If you are a provider or consumer interested in participating on an Nursing Home Informal Dispute Resolution Panel, please submit a brief letter of your interest along with a volunteer application.

Submit documents to: 
RCSIDR@dshs.wa.gov or 
Fax (360) 725-3225

Thank you in advance for your willingness to participate in the selection process. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact either:

Rebecca Fueston
IDR Unit Manager
(360) 725-3203 

Laci Traulsen
Volunteer Coordinator
(360) 725-3218

Related Documents

Certified Community Residential Services and Support Facility IDRs
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities IDRs

 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer on the Informal Dispute Resolution panel and have any questions or difficulties submitting your application materials, please contact the IDR Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator at RCSIDR@dshs.wa.gov.

  • You will need to write a brief letter explaining why you want to be on the panel.
  • You will need to complete an application and list three character references.
  • If chosen, you must also complete a criminal background check.

  • A group of provider specific Informal Dispute Resolution meetings will be held one day each month.
  • There can be up to four reviews per panel day.

  • Attend Informal Dispute Resolution training.
  • Attend a Panel Informal Dispute Resolution as observer.
  • Listen to Provider and Residential Care Services staff presentations.
  • Review confidential materials to prepare for the Informal Dispute Resolution meeting.
  • Vote on whether or not to recommend changes to the Statement of Deficiencies. 

  • No, most of the information you hear and read is confidential.
  • It is inappropriate to discuss details of what you hear during the meeting.
  • This includes talking about how other panel members voted.
  • You will be required to sign a “non-disclosure” agreement to be a volunteer on the Informal Dispute Resolution panel.
  • Your identity as a volunteer Informal Dispute Resolution panel member will not be confidential and that you could be called to testify in a court hearing.

Volunteers are people who perform authorized duties without expecting compensation or other benefits.