Section 388-78A-2350. Coordination of health care services.

(1) The assisted living facility must coordinate services with external health care providers to meet the residents' needs, consistent with the resident's negotiated service agreement.

(2) The assisted living facility must develop, implement and inform residents of the assisted living facility's policies regarding how the assisted living facility interacts with external health care providers, including:

(a) The conditions under which health care information regarding a resident will be shared with external health care providers, consistent with chapter 70.02 RCW; and

(b) How residents' rights to privacy will be protected, including provisions for residents to authorize the release of health care information.

(3) The assisted living facility may disclose health care information about a resident to external health care providers without the resident's authorization if the conditions in RCW 70.02.050 are met.

(4) If the conditions in RCW 70.02.050 are not met, the assisted living facility must request, but may not require, a resident to authorize the assisted living facility and the external health care provider to share the resident's health care information when:

(a) The assisted living facility becomes aware that a resident is receiving health care services from a source other than the assisted living facility; and

(b) The resident has not previously authorized the assisted living facility to release health care information to an external health care provider.

(5) When a resident authorizes the release of health care information or resident authorization is not required under RCW 70.02.050, the assisted living facility must contact the external health care provider and coordinate services.

(6) When authorizations to release health care information are not obtained, or when an external health care provider is unresponsive to the assisted living facility's efforts to coordinate services, the assisted living facility must:

(a) Document the assisted living facility's actions to coordinate services;

(b) Provide notice to the resident of the risks of not allowing the assisted living facility to coordinate care with the external provider; and

(c) Address known associated risks in the resident's negotiated service agreement.

(7) When coordinating care or services, the assisted living facility must:

(a) Integrate relevant information from the external provider into the resident's preadmission assessment and reassessment, and when appropriate, negotiated service agreement; and

(b) Respond appropriately when there are observable or reported changes in the resident's physical, mental, or emotional functioning.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2350, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2350, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2350, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2350, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.