Section 388-96-384. Liquidation or transfer of resident personal funds.

(1) Upon the death of a resident, the facility shall convey within thirty days the resident's personal funds held by the facility with a final accounting of such funds to the department of social and health services office of financial recovery (or successor office) or to the individual or probate jurisdiction administering the resident's estate.

(a) When the deceased resident was a recipient of long-term care services paid for in whole or in part by the department, then the personal funds held by the facility and the final accounting shall be sent to department of social and health services office of financial recovery (or successor office).

(b) When the personal funds of the deceased resident are to be paid to the department, the facility shall:

(i) Pay with a check, money order, certified check or cashiers check made payable to the secretary, department of social and health services;

(ii) Complete a transmittal of resident personal funds form (DSHS form 18-544) for each deceased resident;

(iii) Place the name and social security number of the deceased individual from whose personal funds account the moneys are being paid on the check, money order, certified check or cashier's check and the transmittal of resident personal funds form (DSHS form 18-544); and

(iv) Mail the check or money order and the DSHS 18-544 to the office of financial recovery, estate recovery unit, P.O. Box 9501, Olympia, Washington 98507-9501, or such address as may be directed by the department in the future.

(c) The department of social and health services, office of financial recovery, estate recovery unit shall establish a release procedure for use of funds necessary for burial expenses.

(2) In situations where the resident leaves the nursing home without authorization and the resident's whereabouts is unknown:

(a) The nursing facility shall make a reasonable attempt to locate the missing resident. This includes contacting:

(i) Friends,

(ii) Relatives,

(iii) Police,

(iv) The guardian, and

(v) The home and community services office in the area.

(b) If the resident cannot be located after ninety days, the nursing facility shall notify the department of revenue of the existence of "abandoned property," outlined in chapter 63.29 RCW. The nursing facility shall deliver to the department of revenue the balance of the resident's personal funds within twenty days following such notification.

(3) Prior to the sale or other transfer of ownership of the nursing facility business, the facility operator shall:

(a) Provide each resident or resident representative with a written accounting of any personal funds held by the facility;

(b) Provide the new operator with a written accounting of all resident funds being transferred; and

(c) Obtain a written receipt for those funds from the new operator.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.46 RCW, 2010 1st sp.s. c 34, and 2010 1st sp.s. c 37 § 958. WSR 11-05-068, § 388-96-384, filed 2/14/11, effective 2/26/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800. WSR 01-12-037, § 388-96-384, filed 5/29/01, effective 6/29/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.46 RCW, 1999 c 376 § 3 amending c 309 § 207. WSR 99-24-084, § 388-96-384, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 18. WSR 95-19-037 (Order 3896), § 388-96-384, filed 9/12/95, effective 10/13/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800, 74.42.620 and 74.09.120. WSR 90-20-075 (Order 3070), § 388-96-384, filed 9/28/90, effective 10/1/90. Statutory Authority: 1987 c 476. WSR 88-01-126 (Order 2573), § 388-96-384, filed 12/23/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.09.120. WSR 82-21-025 (Order 1892), § 388-96-384, filed 10/13/82; Order 1168, § 388-96-384, filed 11/3/76; Order 1114, § 388-96-384, filed 4/21/76.]

Chapter 74.46 RCW, 2010 1st sp.s. c 34, and 2010 1st sp.s. c 37 § 958. WSR 11-05-068, § 388-96-384, filed 2/14/11, effective 2/26/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800. WSR 01-12-037, § 388-96-384, filed 5/29/01, effective 6/29/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.46 RCW, 1999 c 376 § 3 amending c 309 § 207. WSR 99-24-084, § 388-96-384, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 18. WSR 95-19-037 (Order 3896), § 388-96-384, filed 9/12/95, effective 10/13/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.46.800, 74.42.620 and 74.09.120. WSR 90-20-075 (Order 3070), § 388-96-384, filed 9/28/90, effective 10/1/90. Statutory Authority: 1987 c 476. WSR 88-01-126 (Order 2573), § 388-96-384, filed 12/23/87. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.09.120. WSR 82-21-025 (Order 1892), § 388-96-384, filed 10/13/82; Order 1168, § 388-96-384, filed 11/3/76; Order 1114, § 388-96-384, filed 4/21/76.