Advisors Research About Meet PRIA

Pricing Methodology Security Sign in

Support Data Sources Privacy Policy Terms of Service Your Privacy Choiceshello@policyrisk.com

© 2026 PRIA Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved.

PRIA provides educational policy intelligence and is not a source of investment, legal, or financial advice. Content is for informational purposes only.

™

Your Policy Risk Impact Agent

Research

At My Address
Federal Courts
Daily Briefings
Medicare & Social Security
Congressional Bills
Federal Register
Tariffs
Fed Decisions & The Economy
State Tracker
World Watch
U.S. Code
U.S. Constitution

Knowledge

Search Polipedia
Daily Briefings
Calculators
What is Policy Risk?
The Countdown

Company

PRIA for Advisors
About PRIA
Support

Get PRIA

Support Data Sources Privacy Policy Terms of Service Your Privacy Choices

hello@policyrisk.com

© 2026 PRIA Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved.

PRIA is a trademark of PRIA Technologies, LLC.

PRIA provides educational policy intelligence and is not a source of investment, legal, or financial advice. Content is for informational purposes only.

Washington Statutes, Title 74

™

Your Policy Risk Impact Agent

Washington/Statutes

← All Washington coverage

Title 74, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

41 chapters · 934 sections in this title.

All chapters in Title 74934 Ch 74.09, Medical care.135 Ch 74.13, Child welfare services.89 Ch 74.42, Nursing homes—Resident care, operati…71 Ch 74.04, General provisions—Administration.67 Ch 74.39A, Long-term care services options—Expa…65 Ch 74.20A, Support of dependent children—Altern…49 Ch 74.08A, Washington WorkFirst temporary assis…46 Ch 74.15, Care of children, expectant mothers,…39 Ch 74.08, Eligibility generally—Standards of a…29 Ch 74.13A, Adoption support.27 Ch 74.34, Abuse of vulnerable adults.27 Ch 74.18, Department of services for the blind.26 Ch 74.20, Support of dependent children.26 Ch 74.12, Temporary assistance for needy families.22

71 sections·Filtered byTitle 74✕Ch 74.42✕

RCW 74.42.010 Definitions.
8.7K chars
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Department" means the department of social and health services and the department's employees. (2) "Direct care staff" means the staffing domain identified and defin…
RCW 74.42.020 Minimum standards.
1.0K chars
The standards in RCW 74.42.030 through 74.42.570 are the minimum standards for facilities licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That RCW 74.42.040, 74.42.140 through 74.42.280, 74.42.300, 74.42.360, 74.42.370, 74.42.380, 74.42.420 (2), (4), (5), (6) and (7), 74.42.…
RCW 74.42.030 Resident to receive statement of rights, rules, services, and charges.
1.7K chars
Each resident or guardian or legal representative, if any, shall be fully informed and receive in writing, in a language the resident or his or her representative understands, the following information: (1) The resident's rights and responsibilities in the facility; (2) Rules gov…
RCW 74.42.040 Resident's rights regarding medical condition, care, and treatment.
0.5K chars
The facility shall insure that each resident and guardian, if any: (1) Is fully informed by a physician about his or her health and medical condition unless the physician decides that informing the resident is medically contraindicated and the physician documents this decision in…

Showing 1–50 of 71

Page 1 of 2

← PreviousNext →

RCW 74.42.050 Residents to be treated with consideration, respect—Complaints.

0.6K chars

(1) Residents shall be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of their dignity and individuality. Residents shall be encouraged and assisted in the exercise of their rights as residents of the facility and as citizens. (2) A resident or guardian, if any, may su…

RCW 74.42.055 Discrimination against medicaid recipients prohibited.

3.7K chars

(1) The purpose of this section is to prohibit discrimination against medicaid recipients by nursing homes which have contracted with the department to provide skilled or intermediate nursing care services to medicaid recipients. (2) A nursing facility shall readmit a resident, w…

RCW 74.42.056 Department assessment of medicaid eligible individuals—Requirements.

1.6K chars

A nursing facility shall not admit any individual who is medicaid eligible unless that individual has been assessed by the department. Appropriate hospital discharge shall not be delayed pending the assessment. To ensure timely hospital discharge of medicaid eligible persons, the…

RCW 74.42.057 Notification regarding resident likely to become medicaid eligible.

0.6K chars

If a nursing facility has reason to know that a resident is likely to become financially eligible for medicaid benefits within one hundred eighty days, the nursing facility shall notify the patient or his or her representative and the department. The department may: (1) Assess an…

RCW 74.42.058 Department case management services.

1.0K chars

(1) To the extent of available funding, the department shall provide case management services to assist nursing facility residents, in conjunction and partnership with nursing facility staff. The purpose of the case management services is to assist residents and their families to…

RCW 74.42.060 Management of residents' financial affairs.

0.6K chars

The facility shall allow a resident or the resident's guardian to manage the resident's financial affairs. The facility may assist a resident in the management of his or her financial affairs if the resident requests assistance in writing and the facility complies with the record…

RCW 74.42.070 Privacy.

0.5K chars

Residents shall be given privacy during treatment and care of personal needs. Residents who are spouses or domestic partners shall be given privacy during visits with their spouses or their domestic partners. If both spouses or both domestic partners are residents of the facility…

RCW 74.42.080 Confidentiality of records.

0.3K chars

Residents' records, including information in an automatic data bank, shall be treated confidentially. The facility shall not release information from a resident's record to a person not otherwise authorized by law to receive the information without the resident's or the resident'…

RCW 74.42.090 Work tasks by residents.

0.2K chars

No resident may be required to perform services for the facility; except that a resident may be required to perform work tasks specified or included in the comprehensive plan of care. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 9.]

RCW 74.42.100 Personal mail.

0.1K chars

The facility shall not open the personal mail that residents send or receive. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 10.]

RCW 74.42.110 Freedom of association—Limits.

0.3K chars

Residents shall be allowed to communicate, associate, meet privately with individuals of their choice, and participate in social, religious, and community group activities unless this infringes on the rights of other residents. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 11.]

RCW 74.42.120 Personal possessions.

0.1K chars

The facility shall allow residents to have personal possessions as space or security permits. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 12.]

RCW 74.42.130 Individual financial records.

0.4K chars

The facility shall keep a current, written financial record for each resident. The record shall include written receipts for all personal possessions and funds received by or deposited with the facility and for all disbursements made to or for the resident. The resident or guardi…

RCW 74.42.140 Prescribed plan of care—Treatment, medication, diet services.

0.3K chars

The facility shall care for residents by providing residents with authorized medical services which shall include treatment, medication, and diet services, and any other services contained in the comprehensive plan of care or otherwise prescribed by the attending physician. [ 197…

RCW 74.42.150 Plan of care—Goals—Program—Responsibilities—Review.

0.7K chars

(1) Under the attending physician's instructions, qualified facility staff will establish and maintain a comprehensive plan of care for each resident which shall be kept on file by the facility and be evaluated through review and assessment by the department. The comprehensive pl…

RCW 74.42.160 Nursing care.

0.3K chars

The facility shall provide the nursing care required for the classification given each resident. The nursing care shall help each resident to achieve and maintain the highest possible degree of function, self-care, and independence to the extent medically possible. [ 1979 ex.s. c…

RCW 74.42.170 Rehabilitative services.

0.8K chars

(1) The facility shall provide rehabilitative services itself or arrange for the provision of rehabilitative services with qualified outside resources for each resident whose comprehensive plan of care requires the provision of rehabilitative services. (2) The rehabilitative serv…

RCW 74.42.180 Social services.

0.5K chars

(1) The facility shall provide social services, or arrange for the provision of social services with qualified outside resources, for each resident whose comprehensive plan of care requires the provision of social services. (2) The facility shall designate one staff member qualif…

RCW 74.42.190 Activities program—Recreation areas, equipment.

0.4K chars

The facility shall have an activities program designed to encourage each resident to maintain normal activity and help each resident return to self care. A staff member qualified by experience or training in directing group activities shall be responsible for the activities progr…

RCW 74.42.200 Supervision of health care by physician—When required.

0.7K chars

The health care of each resident shall be under the continuing supervision of a physician: PROVIDED, That a resident of a facility licensed pursuant to chapter 18.51 RCW but not certified by the federal government under Title XVIII or Title XIX of the Social Security Act as now o…

RCW 74.42.210 Pharmacist services.

0.3K chars

The facility shall either employ a licensed pharmacist responsible for operating the facility's pharmacy or have a written agreement with a licensed pharmacist who will advise the facility on ordering, storage, administration, disposal, and recordkeeping of drugs and biologicals.…

RCW 74.42.220 Contracts for professional services from outside the agency.

0.6K chars

(1) If the facility does not employ a qualified professional to furnish required services, the facility shall have a written contract with a qualified professional or agency outside the facility to furnish the required services. The terms of the contract, including terms about re…

RCW 74.42.225 Self-medication programs for residents—Educational program—Implementation.

0.2K chars

The department shall develop an educational program for attending and staff physicians and patients on self-medication. The department shall actively encourage the implementation of such self-medication programs for residents. [ 1980 c 184 s 18.]

RCW 74.42.230 Physician or authorized practitioner to prescribe medication—Communication of order by licensed nurse, pharmacist, or another physician.

2.5K chars

(1) The resident's attending or staff physician or authorized practitioner approved by the attending physician shall order all medications for the resident. The order may be oral or written and shall continue in effect until discontinued by a physician or other authorized prescri…

RCW 74.42.240 Administering medication.

0.7K chars

(1) No staff member may administer any medication to a resident unless the staff member is licensed to administer medication: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting graduate nurses or student nurses from administering medications when permitted to do so u…

RCW 74.42.250 Medication stop orders—Procedure for persons with developmental disabilities.

0.5K chars

(1) When the physician's order for medication does not include a specific time limit or a specific number of dosages, the facility shall notify the physician that the medication will be stopped at a date certain unless the medication is ordered continued by the physician. The fac…

RCW 74.42.260 Drug storage, security, inventory.

0.9K chars

(1) The facility shall store drugs under proper conditions of sanitation, temperature, light, moisture, ventilation, segregation, and security. Poisons, drugs used externally, and drugs taken internally shall be stored on separate shelves or in separate cabinets at all locations.…

RCW 74.42.270 Drug disposal.

0.2K chars

Any drug that is discontinued or outdated and any container with a worn, illegible, or missing label shall be properly disposed. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 27.]

RCW 74.42.280 Adverse drug reaction.

0.2K chars

Medication errors and adverse drug reactions shall be recorded and reported immediately to the practitioner who ordered the drug. The facility shall report adverse drug reactions consistent with good medical practice. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 28.]

RCW 74.42.285 Immunizations—Rules.

2.5K chars

(1) Long-term care facilities shall: (a) Provide access on-site or make available elsewhere for all residents to obtain the influenza virus immunization on an annual basis; (b) Require that each resident, or the resident's legal representative, upon admission to the facility, be …

RCW 74.42.290 Meal intervals—Food handling—Utensils—Disposal.

0.7K chars

(1) The facility shall serve at least three meals, or their equivalent, daily at regular times with not more than fourteen hours between a substantial evening meal and breakfast on the following day and not less than ten hours between breakfast and a substantial evening meal on t…

RCW 74.42.300 Nutritionist—Menus, special diets.

1.0K chars

(1) The facility shall have a staff member trained or experienced in food management and nutrition responsible for planning menus that meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section and supervising meal preparation and service to insure that the menu plan is followed. (2…

RCW 74.42.310 Staff duties at meals.

0.3K chars

(1) A facility shall have sufficient personnel to supervise the residents, direct self-help dining skills, and to insure that each resident receives enough food. (2) A facility shall provide table service for all residents, including residents in wheelchairs, who are capable and …

RCW 74.42.320 Sanitary procedures for food preparation.

0.2K chars

Facilities shall have effective sanitary procedures for the food preparation staff including procedures for cleaning food preparation equipment and food preparation areas. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 32.]

RCW 74.42.330 Food storage.

0.3K chars

The facility shall store dry or staple food items at an appropriate height above the floor in a ventilated room not subject to sewage or wastewater backflow or contamination by condensation, leakage, rodents or vermin. Perishable foods shall be stored at proper temperatures to co…

RCW 74.42.340 Administrative support—Purchasing—Inventory control.

0.5K chars

(1) The facility shall provide adequate administrative support to efficiently meet the needs of residents and facilitate attainment of the facility's goals and objectives. (2) The facility shall: (a) Document the purchasing process; (b) Adequately operate the inventory control sy…

RCW 74.42.350 Organization chart.

0.4K chars

The facility shall have and keep current an organization chart showing: (1) The major operating programs of the facility; (2) The staff divisions of the facility; (3) The administrative personnel in charge of the programs and divisions; and (4) The lines of authority, responsibil…

RCW 74.42.360 Adequate staff—Minimum staffing standards—Exceptions—Definition.

11.5K chars

(1) The facility shall have staff on duty twenty-four hours daily sufficient in number and qualifications to carry out the provisions of RCW 74.42.010 through 74.42.570 and the policies, responsibilities, and programs of the facility. (2) The department shall institute minimum st…

RCW 74.42.370 Licensed administrator.

0.3K chars

The facility shall have an administrator who is a licensed nursing home administrator under chapter 18.52 RCW. The administrator is responsible for managing the facility and implementing established policies and procedures. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 37.]

RCW 74.42.380 Director of nursing services.

2.9K chars

(1) The facility shall have a director of nursing services. The director of nursing services shall be a registered nurse or an *advanced registered nurse practitioner. (2) The director of nursing services is responsible for: (a) Coordinating the plan of care for each resident; (b…

RCW 74.42.390 Communication system.

0.2K chars

The facility shall have a communication system, including telephone service, that insures prompt contact of on-duty personnel and prompt notification of responsible personnel in an emergency. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 39.]

RCW 74.42.400 Engineering and maintenance personnel.

0.1K chars

The facility shall have sufficient trained and experienced personnel for necessary engineering and maintenance functions. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 40.]

RCW 74.42.410 Laundry services.

0.2K chars

The facility shall manage laundry services to meet the residents' daily clothing and linen needs. The facility shall have available at all times enough linen for the proper care and comfort of the residents. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 41.]

RCW 74.42.420 Resident record system.

1.2K chars

The facility shall maintain an organized record system containing a record for each resident. The record shall contain: (1) Identification information, including the information listed in RCW 18.51.095(1); (2) Admission information, including the resident's medical and social his…

RCW 74.42.430 Written policy guidelines.

1.3K chars

The facility shall develop written guidelines governing: (1) All services provided by the facility; (2) Admission, transfer or discharge; (3) The use of chemical and physical restraints, the personnel authorized to administer restraints in an emergency, and procedures for monitor…

RCW 74.42.440 Facility rated capacity not to be exceeded.

0.2K chars

The facility may only admit individuals when the facility's rated capacity will not be exceeded and when the facility has the capability to provide adequate treatment, therapy, and activities. [ 1979 ex.s. c 211 s 44.]