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Bill would create health-benefit program for nursing home workers; sponsors say it will aid recruitment and retention
Summary
Senate Bill 5344 would establish an Essential Worker Health Care Program within DSHS to help nursing facilities provide affordable, high-quality health benefits to employees; program implementation is contingent on federal approvals and state plan actions, and DSHS would certify and potentially recoup supplemental payments for noncompliance.
The Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee heard testimony Jan. 28 on Senate Bill 5344, sponsored by Sen. Rachele Richelli, to establish an Essential Worker Health Care Program within the Department of Social and Health Services to help nursing facility employers provide affordable, quality health coverage for employees.
Committee staff summarized a December 2024 DSHS report that identified three implementation options: (1) use the existing home-care trust, (2) create a self-funded multiemployer welfare arrangement (similar to Oregon's model),…
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