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In
December 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) decertified two
portions of two residential habilitation centers operated by DSHS. Rainier
School PAT E, and Fircrest School PAT A, were cited for not being in compliance
with Conditions of Participation for Intermediate Care Facilities for
Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.
DSHS
appealed the decertifications and has been working with CMS to resolve the
issues. Wednesday, May 9, 2018, the Developmental Disabilities Administration
(DDA) and CMS entered into settlement agreements for each PAT.
Settlement
details
DDA
will have up to 180 days to bring both facilities to maintain certification.
Per the settlement, DDA must hire a consultant to look at operations within the
PATs and prepare a root-cause analysis report. The report will focus on issues
related to structure, culture, personnel and other factors that prevent the
PATs from achieving and maintaining CMS’s Conditions of Participation. The
department will contract with Westcare
Healthcare Management for this work.
The
analysis includes working with the facilities to develop corrective action
plans. The plans must be completed within 100 days of the settlement signing.
Sometime after 120 days, and no later than 180 days from the date of the
settlement agreements, Residential Care Services (acting as an agent for CMS)
will re-survey both PATs. The surveys will be unannounced and conducted
regardless if the consultant has completed their report.
By
entering into this agreement, DDA waives its right for hearings on these
decertifications. No later than 180 days from the date of parties signed the
agreements, CMS will make a final determination of compliance or non-compliance
based on the surveys.
The
well-being of clients at our residential habilitation centers is paramount. We
will continue providing all necessary services to the residents living at
Rainier and Fircrest as we work through the settlement agreements. We
appreciate the chance provided by our federal partners to improve facility
operations. Our goal is to meet and maintain the requirements necessary to
maintain Medicaid certification.
DSHS’s
Developmental Disabilities Administration operates four residential
habilitation centers (RHCs) statewide:
 *Denial of payment
for new admissions (DPNA) – meaning we cannot receive federal funds
(approximately 50 percent match) for new residents
Evelyn Perez, DDA Assistant Secretary and Don Clintsman, DDA Deputy Assistant Secretary
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