On June 23, 2025, formal comments were submitted regarding Washington State’s proposed rules related to resident discharges from Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings. The comments advocate for stronger, clearer protections for all residents—Medicaid and private-pay alike—especially around eviction procedures. They emphasize the need for the state to align with federal regulations requiring legally enforceable Read More
A fair and equitable government agency looks for legally supportable ways to further its mission to protect vulnerable populations rather than erring on the side of doing nothing, especially when there is little to no legal risk. Here, the Department of Social and Health Services (“Department”) is avoiding doing what it agrees is an equitable Read More
Twenty-seven years ago, the state legislature extended the federal rights of nursing home residents to the residents of all long-term care settings in Washington—including the right to appeal an involuntary transfer or discharge through an administrative hearing. However, the Department of Social and Health Services (the Department) has never amended its rules to provide this Read More
