Long-term care ombud funding

AN ACT Relating to providing sufficient funding for the 1
Washington state long-term care ombuds program; adding a new section 2
to chapter 43.190 RCW; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:5
(1) Residents of licensed long-term care facilities are entitled 6
to a specific set of rights under chapter 70.129 RCW, including the 7
right to be treated with courtesy, the opportunity to exercise 8
reasonable control over life decisions, and the right to receive care 9
in a manner and in an environment that maintains or enhances their 10
dignity and respect in full recognition of their individuality;11
(2) All residents of licensed long-term care facilities are 12
classified as vulnerable adults under chapter 74.34 RCW;13
(3) The long-term care ombuds program is mandated under chapter 14
43.190 RCW to promote and protect the rights of residents, including 15
identifying, investigating, and resolving complaints made by or on 16
behalf of residents of long-term care facilities which may adversely 17
affect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of these individuals;18
(4) All residents of licensed long-term care facilities are 19
entitled to ombuds services under chapter 70.129 RCW and the older 20
Americans act; 21
S-1046.1
SENATE BILL 5606
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Bateman, Hasegawa, and Nobles
Read first time 01/31/25. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-
Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5606
(5) A 2020 report from the department of commerce found funding 1
was insufficient to meet the ratio of one full-time ombuds for every 2
2,000 residents as recommended by the institute of medicine; and3
(6) The number of individuals living in licensed long-term care 4
facilities is expected to continue to grow, requiring additional 5
resources for the long-term care ombuds program. 6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.190 7
RCW to read as follows: 8
(1) By September 1, 2025, and each subsequent September 1st, the 9
long-term care ombuds program shall, in partnership with the 10
department of commerce, and consulting with the office of financial 11
management, develop a funding recommendation that provides adequate 12
and appropriate funding for the long-term care ombuds program to 13
allow it to fulfill its statutory obligations, including any 14
legislation impacting residents of licensed long-term care facilities 15
that will require additional work from the program. The funding 16
recommendation must: 17
(a) Provide sufficient funding to achieve the ratio of one full-18
time ombuds for every 2,000 residents, as recommended by the 19
institute of medicine; 20
(b) Account for the growth in licensed long-term care beds, as 21
forecast by the caseload forecast council established in RCW 22
43.88C.010; 23
(c) Account for any inflationary factors present in the consumer 24
price index; and 25
(d) Account for any administrative needs for the department of 26
commerce. 27
(2) By September 1, 2025, and each subsequent September 1st, the 28
department of commerce shall submit the funding recommendation 29
developed in subsection (1) of this section for consideration to the 30
office of financial management and the chairs of the fiscal 31
committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over the operating 32
budget. 33
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