2013 Revised Code of Washington
Title 74 - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
74.39A Long-term care services options -- Expansion.
74.39A.310 Contract for individual home care services providers -- Cost of increase in wages and benefits funded--Formula.

RCW 74.39A.310 Contract for individual home care services providers — Cost of increase in wages and benefits funded — Formula.

(1) The department shall create a formula that converts the cost of the increase in wages and benefits negotiated and funded in the contract for individual providers of home care services pursuant to RCW 74.39A.270 and 74.39A.300, into a per-hour amount, excluding those benefits defined in subsection (2) of this section. That per-hour amount shall be added to the statewide home care agency vendor rate and shall be used exclusively for improving the wages and benefits of home care agency workers who provide direct care. The formula shall account for:

     (a) All types of wages, benefits, and compensation negotiated and funded each biennium, including but not limited to:

     (i) Regular wages;

     (ii) Benefit pay, such as vacation, sick, and holiday pay;

     (iii) Taxes on wages/benefit pay;

     (iv) Mileage; and

     (v) Contributions to a training partnership; and

     (b) The increase in the average cost of worker's compensation for home care agencies and application of the increases identified in (a) of this subsection to all hours required to be paid, including travel time, of direct service workers under the wage and hour laws and associated employer taxes.

     (2) The contribution rate for health care benefits, including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision benefits, for eligible agency home care workers shall be paid by the department to home care agencies at the same rate as negotiated and funded in the collective bargaining agreement for individual providers of home care services.

[2007 c 361 § 8; 2006 c 9 § 1.]

Notes:

Effective date -- 2007 c 361 §§ 7 and 8: See note following RCW 74.39A.270.      Construction -- Severability -- Captions not law -- Short title -- 2007 c 361: See notes following RCW 74.39A.009.      Effective date -- 2006 c 9: "This act takes effect July 1, 2006." [2006 c 9 § 3.]