Washington Administrative Code

The applicant or licensee must develop and implement a plan of operation which includes:(1) A description of the organizational structure;(2) Personnel job descriptions according to WAC 246-335-625(2);(3) Responsibilities of contractors and volunteers;(4) Services to be provided;…

The applicant or licensee must develop and operationalize policies and procedures that describe:(1) Admission, transfer, discharge, and referral processes:(a) In order to minimize the possibility of patient abandonment, patients must be given at least a forty-eight hour written o…

The applicant or licensee must develop and operationalize personnel, contractor, and volunteer policies and procedures that describe:(1) Employment criteria regarding discrimination consistent with chapter 49.60 RCW;(2) Job descriptions that contain responsibilities and are consi…

The licensee must maintain records on all personnel and volunteers and have access to records on all contractors to include:(1) Current practice certification, credential or licensure, as applicable;(2) Documentation of references;(3) Evidence of orientation to current agency pol…

A hospice agency at the time of admission must provide each patient, designated family member, or legal representative with a written bill of rights affirming each patient's right to:(1) Receive effective pain management and symptom control and quality services from the hospice a…

Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the licensee must:(1) Develop and implement a written hospice plan of care for each patient with input from the authorizing practitioner, appropriate interdisciplinary team members, and the patient, designated family member, o…

(1) A licensee must employ a director of clinical services.(2) The director of clinical services must designate in writing a similarly qualified alternate to act in the director's absence.(3) The licensee shall ensure the director of clinical services and the designated alternate…

The licensee must:(1) Maintain a current record for each patient consistent with chapter 70.02 RCW;(2) Ensure that patient records are:(a) Accessible in the licensee's office location for review by appropriate direct care personnel, volunteers, contractors, and the department;(b)…

Every hospice licensee must establish and implement a quality improvement program to ensure the quality of care and services provided throughout all approved service areas or within a hospice care center that includes, at a minimum:(1) A complaint process that includes a procedur…

This section applies only to hospice agencies and hospice care centers providing or contracting for medical supplies or equipment services.(1) The applicant or licensee must develop and implement policies and procedures to:(a) Maintain medical supplies and equipment;(b) Clean, in…

The requirements in WAC 246-335-705 through 246-335-768 apply to hospice care center services.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.127.120 and 43.70.250. WSR 18-06-093, § 246-335-705, filed 3/6/18, effective 4/6/18.]

The definitions in this section apply throughout WAC 246-335-705 through 246-335-768 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Construction" means:(a) New building(s) to be used as a hospice care center;(b) Addition(s) to or conversion(s), either in whole or in part, of…

(1) A person must possess a current license issued by the department before advertising, operating, managing, conducting, opening or maintaining a hospice care center.(2) Prior to being approved to provide hospice care center services, an applicant must:(a) Be licensed under chap…

(1) Initial application. To apply for a hospice care center license, an applicant must meet the initial application requirements in WAC 246-335-320 (2)(a) through (g), (i), and (j), WAC 246-335-712(2), and submit documentation that no more than forty-nine percent of patient care …

(1) Nutritional services must be supervised by an RN or dietitian or nutritionist as defined in WAC 246-335-610(4).(2) Appropriate nutritional consultation must be provided to the patient and family regarding the patient's dietary needs.(3) Food must be prepared and served at int…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing infection control pertinent to the hospice care center and consistent with WAC 246-335-625(14).[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.127.120 and 43.70.250. WSR 18-06-093, § 24…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must:(1) Develop and operationalize written policies and procedures governing emergency preparedness and fire protection;(2) Develop a written emergency preparedness plan, rehearsed at least annually with personnel, contractors, and vol…

The licensee must ensure that all pharmaceutical services are provided consistent with chapter 246-945 WAC and the following requirements:(1) Pharmaceutical services must be available 24 hours per day to provide medications and supplies through a licensed pharmacy;(2) A licensed …

Hospice care centers applying for an exemption to any of the requirements in WAC 246-335-705 through 246-335-724 must comply with the requirements in WAC 246-335-355.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.127.120 and 43.70.250. WSR 18-06-093, § 246-335-724, filed 3/6/18, effective 4/6/18.]

The purpose of the following construction regulations in WAC 246-335-726 through 246-335-768 is to provide minimum standards for a safe, homelike, and effective patient care environment in hospice care centers consistent with other applicable rules without redundancy and contradi…

A hospice care center applicant must, through its design, construction, and necessary permits demonstrate compliance with the following codes and local jurisdiction standards:(1) The state building code as adopted by the state building code council under the authority of chapter …

(1) Drawings and specifications for new construction, excluding minor alterations, must be prepared by or under the direction of, an architect registered under chapter 18.08 RCW. The services of a consulting engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW may be used for the various …

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide a site with utilities that meet state building code and local regulations including:(1) Potable water supply meeting requirements in chapters 246-270, 246-290, and 246-291 WAC;(2) Natural drainage or properly designed/engin…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must meet the following general design elements for patient and family care and support areas as described in this chapter.(1) Design of the hospice care center must take into account:(a) The number of patient rooms planned which must n…

Furnishings of the hospice care center must be homelike and include lounge furniture in addition to furnishings in patient rooms. Accessories such as wallpaper, bedspreads, carpets and lamps must be:(1) Selected to create a homelike atmosphere; and(2) Installed per manufacturer i…

(1) Pharmaceutical services area(s) must be accessible only to authorized personnel.(2) A hospice care center must provide pharmacy services area(s) consistent with chapter 246-945 WAC which include adequate space for:(a) A work counter;(b) A handwash sink;(c) A soap and paper to…

(1) A hospice care center applicant or licensee must:(a) Locate food preparation areas to prevent objectionable heat, noise and odors to patient rooms;(b) Provide a nourishment center for use by patients and family with:(i) A refrigerator capable of maintaining 45°F or less;(ii) …

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide linen handling facilities with the capacity for receiving, holding, sorting, and separating soiled and clean linens either in:(1) Clean and soiled utility rooms meeting the requirements of WAC 246-335-746; or(2) In a separa…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide laundry service through the use of:(1) A commercial laundry service; or(2) On-site laundry facilities with:(a) A system to avoid through traffic or excessive heat, noise or odors to travel to patient rooms;(b) Equipment cap…

(1) A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide a clean utility room with no direct connection to soiled utility services, including:(a) Sufficient clean storage and handling area(s);(b) Closed storage for clean and sterile supplies and equipment;(c) A work surface;(…

An applicant must design and install plumbing, including:(1) Backflow prevention. Devices on plumbing fixtures, equipment, facilities, buildings, premises, or areas which may cause actual or potential cross-connections of systems in order to prevent the backflow of water or other…

If oxygen is stored or used on the premises, the following must apply in addition to other codes and regulations:(1) Electrical equipment used in oxygen-enriched environments must be properly designed for use with oxygen and should be labeled for use with oxygen; and(2) "No smoki…

(1) Hospice care centers must have systems to provide individual temperature control for patient rooms to ensure patient preference and comfort. The hospice care center must have the capacity to maintain:(a) Patient rooms at 70°F in summer and 80°F in winter; and(b) Nonpatient ca…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide general electrical service including:(1) Tamper proof receptacles in patient rooms, toilets, and bathing facilities, and family and public areas;(2) Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle when located within fiv…

(1) A hospice care center applicant or licensee must locate patient rooms to exclude through traffic and minimize the penetration of objectionable odors and noise from other areas of the center.(2) Hospice care centers must ensure each patient room is:(a) Directly accessible from…

(1) Each patient toilet must adjoin the patient room and include:(a) Bedpan flushing equipment if bedpan flushing equipment is not located in a soiled utility room;(b) A handwash sink;(c) Single service soap and towel dispensers;(d) Slip resistant floor surfaces;(e) A toilet pape…

(1) A hospice care center applicant or licensee must provide family use areas with:(a) A minimum of two hundred square feet;(b) Comfortable seating for several family members;(c) Provision for families and patients to share meals;(d) Drinking water;(e) A public telephone;(f) Info…

(1) The hospice care center must provide a waste handling area including storage area in a separate area designed to maintain pest control, or in an outside, enclosed space with:(a) A handwash sink located adjacent to the path of travel back into patient care areas;(b) If planned…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must:(1) If planning a maintenance shop, ensure it is located and designed for easy delivery and removal of equipment and to minimize noise and dust to the rest of the hospice care center with:(a) Storage for solvents, flammable and com…

A hospice care center applicant or licensee must:(1) Provide bulk and general supply storage constructed to control pests and prevent spoilage, contamination, damage, and corrosion of goods including:(a) Protection against inclement weather;(b) Secured spaces with appropriate env…

Hospice care centers applying for an exemption to any of the requirements in WAC 246-335-726 through 246-335-766 must comply with the requirements in WAC 246-335-355.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.127.120 and 43.70.250. WSR 18-06-093, § 246-335-768, filed 3/6/18, effective 4/6/18.]

(Effective until June 1, 2026)(1) Initial license. An applicant shall submit to the department an initial twelve-month license fee of three thousand two hundred eighty-three dollars for each service category (home care, home health, hospice) for persons not currently licensed to …

(1) This chapter implements chapter 71.12 RCW and sets the minimum health and safety standards for licensure and operations of twenty-four hour private, county or municipal residential treatment facilities (RTF) providing health care services to persons with mental disorders or s…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(1) "Administrator" means an individual person responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the residential treatment facility.(2) "Adult" means an individual eig…

(1) An applicant may not open or operate an RTF until all requirements for licensure set forth in this section are met and the department has issued an initial, renewed, or amended RTF license listing the service type(s) approved to be provided in the RTF.(2) The RTF licensure pr…

A licensee must provide one or more of the following types of services in the RTF:(1) Mental health services;(2) Substance use disorder services;(3) Co-occurring services; or(4) Pediatric transitional care services.[Statutory Authority: RCW 71.12.670, 71.12.684 and 2017 c 263. WS…

(1) To determine compliance with chapter 71.12 RCW and this chapter, the department may:(a) Conduct unannounced on-site surveys after initial licensure; and(b) Investigate complaints alleging noncompliance with chapter 71.12 RCW and this chapter.(2) The licensee shall assist the …

(1) An applicant or licensee may request an exemption or alternative means or methods of compliance from any part of this chapter by submitting a written request to the department that includes:(a) The specific section, or sections, of rules for which the exemption or alternative…

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, any construction on or after August 20, 2005, must comply with this chapter.(2) RTFs that are licensed and operating on August 20, 2005, may continue to operate without modifications to the facility, unless specif…

(1) Prior to beginning any construction or remodeling, the applicant or licensee must submit an application and fee specified in chapter 246-314 WAC, if applicable, to the department and receive written authorization by the department to proceed.(2) The requirements of chapter 24…