Progam Information - Hospice Care Centers

Hospice Care Centers provide hospice services for terminally ill patients in a homelike, non-institutional environment. Hospice services include symptom and pain management for terminally ill individuals and emotional, spiritual, and bereavement support for the individual and family.

Hospice Care Centers may offer levels of care as:

Continuous care for a minimum eight hours a day of one-to-one services with assessment and supervision by a registered nurse.
General inpatient care where a registered nurse is on site twenty-four hours a day for assessment and supervision.
Inpatient respite care for patients whose caregiver requires short term relief of their caregiving duties.
Routine home care as the core level of services not listed above.

State licensing of these centers was established when the rules became effective in 2002. The Department of Health enforces minimum health and safety by periodically conducting surveys of these centers.

Hospice Care Centers may voluntarily seek approval for certification by the federal Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).CMS contracts with the Department of Health, Facilities and Services Licensing to evaluate compliance with federal hospice regulations by periodically conducting surveys of these centers.

State Statute and Rules

In Home Services Complete Law Book
Statue: RCW 70.127
Rules: WAC 246-335

Application for State License

Applicants must be currently licensed in the state of Washington as a Hospice Agency.

For persons interested in the application process for state licensure of these centers, here are the steps to follow:

Submit a completed application and fee along with the following information to Office of Health Care Survey:
- A description of the organizational structure listing the names of the agency, officers, administrator, clinical directors, partners, managing employees, or owners of ten percent or more of the agency's assets.
- The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all office locations.
- A description of the service area in which the agency plans to operate and a description of how the agency will provide management and supervision of services throughout the service area.
- A description of the services to be offered directly and under contracts.
- A copy of Washington State Patrol (WSP) criminal history background checks and disclosure statements in compliance with RCW 43.43.830-842.
- Copy of the current business license.
- Evidence of professional liability, public liability, and property damage insurance.
After review and acceptance of the application materials, DOH conducts a survey before issuing the license.

Federal Medicare Regulations

Regulations: 42 CFR 418.100 Part E
Hospice - Provide Inpatient Care Directly

Note: State licensure and federal Medicare certification as a Hospice Agency is required.

Hospice Care Centers must be compliant with the federal Conditions of Participation for in-patient hospice care that is determined when a survey is conducted on these regulations. The Department of Health surveys these centers for compliance and recommends certification to the Medicare agency.

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Washington State Department of Health
Facility Services Licensing
P.O. Box 47852
Olympia, WA 98504-7852
Phone: (360) 236-2905
Fax: (360) 236-2901
Last Update : 12/22/2011 11:18 AM
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