AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

August 17, 1998

BH #98-021

Dear Boarding Home Provider:

This letter is to inform you of a new law that relates to medication assistance in boarding homes and other community-based settings. The law is Substitute House Bill 2452, Defining Medication Assistance in Community-Based Settings, and it became effective June 11, 1998.

The law defines and allows for medication assistance in residential settings if certain criteria area followed. We have enclosed a one-page summary of Substitute House Bill 2452 and a copy of the bill itself.

Currently, the Board of Pharmacy, the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, and the Department of Social and Health Services are working together to determine how to best implement this bill.

We have also enclosed an interim guideline for medication and service categories. This was developed with members of the provider associations, nursing commission, and department staff.

The guidelines are intended to clarify current rules.

We are hopeful that you will find this new law helpful to better serve the residents in your facility. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact your area manager.

Sincerely,

Patricia Lashway, Director
Residential Care Services

Enclosures

cc: Kathy Leitch, Director, Home and Community Services
Mindy Schaffner, Acting Administrator, Community Services Quality Assurance
Area Manager