Disclosure Information
In May 2011 House Bill 1494 passed regarding elder and vulnerable adult placement referrals and will be effective January 1, 2012. The bill requires Referral Agencies to disclose certain information to Clients prior to any referral. The bill also requires the Agency to view the Providers facility 30 days prior to making any referral.
Definitions
"Client" means an elder person or a vulnerable adult, or his or her representative if any, seeking a referral or assistance with entering into an arrangement for supportive housing or care services in Washington State through an elder and vulnerable adult referral agency. For purposes of this chapter, the "client's representative" means the person authorized under RCW 7.70.065 or other laws to provide informed consent for an individual unable to do so. "Client" may also mean a person seeking a referral for supportive housing or care services on behalf of the elder person or vulnerable adult through an elder care referral service: Provided that such a person is a family member, relative, or domestic partner of the senior or vulnerable adult.
"Provider" means any entity or person that both provides supportive housing or care services to a vulnerable adult for a fee and provides or is required to provide such housing or services under a state or local business license specific to such housing or services.
"Elder and vulnerable adult referral agency" or "agency" means a business or person who receives a fee from or on behalf of a vulnerable adult seeking a referral to care services or supportive housing, or who receives a fee from a care services provider or supportive housing provider because of any referral provided to or on behalf of a vulnerable adult.
Carewatchers is a web-based referral company that offers three marketing plans to adult family homes. The client does not pay a fee for any of these plan.
Plan one offers directory advertising and provides the adult family home with a web page. The adult family home will be listed in our directory by state, county and city. The web page will describe the facility and provide eight photos to show your facility. The adult family home listing and web page will show in our online directory for one year. The listing and web page will be removed from our website at the end of one year unless renewed. Plan one is a non-agency plan and the adult family home does not pay Carewatchers a fee when it receives a client from the directory listing or web page.
Plan two provides a directory listing, web page and Carewatchers will take all calls to set up an appointment with you and the potential client to show your facility. When a private pay client chooses an adult family home referred by Carewatchers the adult family home (provider), will pay Carewatchers 20% of the client's first month’s fee on the 5th day of the fourth month. The 20% fee is on a per client basis. Carewatchers discloses to client (resident) that the provider pays Carewatchers commission (20% of the first month’s fee. Provider and/or Client are responsible for the cost of residents' assessment. No fee is paid to Carewatchers when Carewatchers refers or brings a Medicaid client. In the event the resident is not under the care of the provider on the 5th day of the fourth month due to transfer or death, provider does not pay Carewatchers the 20% fee.
Plan three provides a directory listing, web page and Carewatchers will take all calls to set up an appointment with you and the potential client to show your facility. However, Carewatchers does not charge the adult family home (provider) or Client (resident) a placement or referral fee. When Carewatchers brings or refers the adult family home (provider) a private pay or Medicaid client, the adult family home will not pay Carewatchers a placement or referral fee; nor does the client (resident) pay Carewatchers a placement or referral fee. Provider and/or Client are responsible for the cost of residents' assessment.
Sec. 3. (1) Carewatchers maintains general and professional liability insurance to cover the acts and services. Sec. 3. (2) Carewatchers does not create an exclusive agreement between Carewatchers and the client, or between the Carewatchers and a provider. Sec. 3. (4) All owners, operators, and employees of Carewatchers are considered mandated reporters under the vulnerable adults act, chapter 11 74.34 RCW.
Sec. 5. (1) Carewatchers keeps records of all referrals rendered to or on behalf of clients. Sec. 5. (2) Carewatchers keeps records of any contract or written agreement entered into with any provider for services rendered to or on behalf of a vulnerable adult, including any referrals to a provider. Sec. 5. (3) Carewatchers maintains the records of clients and providers for a period of six years.
Sec. 6. (1) Carewatchers provides a disclosure statement to each client prior to making a referral. Sec. 6. (2c) Carewatchers will disclose to the client the amount of fee to be received from the provider, if the client requests such information. Sec. 6. (2c) Carewatchers or officers, employees or operators do not have an ownership interest in any supportive housing or care service.
Sec. 8. (3) Prior to making a referral of a care services provider, Carewatchers conducts a search, and informs the client that a search was conducted, of the Department of Health's web site to determine if the provider is in enforcement status for violation of its licensing regulations.
Sec. 11. All of Carewatchers owner(s), operators, and employees that works with vulnerable adults have passed a criminal background check and must have a criminal background check every twenty-four months.
Sec. 16. Carewatchers and their officers, employees or operators, are not providers and will not be liable or responsible for the acts or omissions of a provider.
You may file a complaint with the Attorney General's office by going to http://www.atg.wa.gov/fileacomplaint.aspx or calling 206-464-6684.
The Department of Social and Health Services has a “Complaint Resolution” hotline at 800-562-6078.
Contact Carewatchers:
2018 156th Ave. NE
Suite 100, Building F
Bellevue, WA. 98007
Phone: 800.564.8185
Fax: 425.440.0962