Bill > SB5407

This bill delays the rebasing of nursing home payment rates until fiscal year 2028, effectively extending the current payment rate calculations. Specifically, the bill modifies existing law regarding how nursing home facilities are reimbursed, postponing the scheduled recalculation of direct and indirect care rates. Under the previous law, these rates were to be calculated using the 2024 and 2025 calendar year cost reports, but this bill specifies that the rates using the 2025 calendar year cost reports will not go into effect until fiscal year 2028. The 2024 direct and indirect care rates, along with a one-time rate add-on for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, will remain in place until fiscal year 2028. The bill maintains the existing complex payment system for nursing homes, which includes components for direct care, indirect care, and capital, and incorporates a quality incentive system that rewards facilities based on performance metrics. By delaying the rebasing, the bill provides stability and predictability for nursing home facilities in their reimbursement rates over the next few years.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5407&Year=2025&Initiative=false