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Washington Home Care Association

Washington Home Care Association

The Washington Home Care Association was formed in 2005 to advance the field of Home Care in Washington State and support member home care agencies. WAHCA is the state chapter of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA)

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Wa DOH Home Care Aides Update

wahca · April 16, 2020 ·

As received in a newsletter from the Washington Department of Health:

On March 26, Governor Jay Inslee issued proclamation 20-25 on healthcare worker licensing. The proclamation waived certain statutes and rules with the intent to increase the health care system’s capacity to respond to COVID-19. The proclamation is in effect until midnight on April 25, 2020, unless extended by legislative approval. 

The information below summarizes the rules that were waived for health professions. The Governor’s powers to issue proclamations that waive law during emergencies (RCW 43.7.06.220(4)) states that no orders concerning waiver or suspension may continue longer than thirty days unless extended by the legislature. 

Waiver of continuing education requirements for returning from expired to active status

The Governor has waived continuing education and training requirements to return from expired to active licensing status through April 25, 2020 by waiving WAC 246-980-115(1)(c), and (2)(a) language “submit proof of twelve continuing education hours as required by RCW 74.39A.341 and WAC 246-980-110 for each year it has been expired.” 

Extension of health profession license expiration dates

As a reminder, to allow health professionals to focus on patient care during the COVID-19 outbreak and reduce the economic burden on providers not able to work during this emergency, the Secretary of Health has extended health profession license expiration dates to September 30, 2020.  Governor’s Proclamation 20-32provides authority for this action without agency rulemaking.

COVID-19 Resources from HCAOA

wahca · April 16, 2020 ·

HCAOA has made the following page available with important resources for our member home care agencies

https://www.hcaoa.org/documents/coronavirus-resources/

Protect & Prevent – It starts at home!

wahca · April 14, 2020 ·

Serving as the first line of defense the top priority of all WACHA member home care organizations. WACHA/HCAOA member organizations represent the absolute best in home care and are trained to help Protect & Prevent the spread of Covid-19 to some of the most vulnerable.

Please use this printable to post up as a reminder of how to Protect and Prevent!

The Power to Precent and ProtectDownload

Nursing Assistant Laws and COVID-19

wahca · April 13, 2020 ·

Nursing Assistant Laws Waived by Governor Inslee

Health care worker licensing proclamation

The governor has issued a health care worker licensing proclamation removing certain barriers for licensure. You can find it here. This is effective until midnight on April 25, 2020, unless extended by legislative approval. Below is a summary of what the waivers pertaining to nursing assistants do.

Barriers to continued and uninterrupted health care practice, including continuing education and other training requirements and license renewal deadlines

Licensed health profession rules requiring continuing education (CE), AIDS education, and training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management are waived. This includes the eight hours of CE required to maintain the medication assistant endorsement and the requirement to demonstrate clinical skills to an instructor in a practice setting in nursing assistant training programs.

Barriers to the practice of health care provider volunteers

The requirement to verify that an NA has completed basic caregiver training and core delegation training before delegation, and the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission community-based and in-home care setting delegation decision tree are waived.

Long-term care worker rules proclamation

The governor has issued a proclamation suspending certification requirements in community-based settings (adult family homes, assisted living facilities and home care agencies). You can find it here. This is effective until midnight April 9, 2020, unless extended by legislative approval. This means that NARs can work in a community-based facility past 200 days before obtaining their NAC or HCA credential.

NAR four-month rule proclamation

The governor has issued a proclamation suspending certification requirements in nursing homes. You can find it here. This is effective until midnight April 29, 2020, unless extended by legislative approval. This means that NARs can work in a nursing home past 120 days before obtaining their NAC credential.

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving. You can monitor the following sources for updates:

  • Department of Health COVID-19 webpage: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
  • Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 webpage: https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources
  • Washington state COVID-19 webpage: https://www.coronavirus.wa.gov
  • Federal COVID-19 webpage: https://www.coronavirus.gov
  • Pearson Vue testing suspension information: https://home.pearsonvue.com/Standalone-pages/Coronavirus-update/United-States.aspx

COVID-19 Webinars

wahca · March 25, 2020 ·

Thank you to everyone who has joined our Blooming Virtual Latte webinars! For your convenience, we have embedded them below.

If you have any questions after viewing the webinars, feel free to submit them to us, and we will add them to our FAQ.

March

April 17, 2020

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