Join us for the 2026 Spring Conference: In Good Hands — Advocacy & Guidance You Need to Thrive, where Adult Family Home providers come together to speak directly with Council leadership, share real experiences, and shape the policies that impact your daily work.

Auburn registration closes TONIGHT at midnight.
If you’ve been planning to attend, this is your last chance to secure your spot. Spots are extremely limited. Last year’s event sold out, don’t miss out.

Vancouver registration closes next Friday.
Spots are filling quickly, so don’t wait until the last minute.

With Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations beginning in mid-May, this is a particularly important time for provider input. Your participation will help inform discussions on key issues, including communication with the department, program development, and fair compensation.

Conference attendees will:

• Receive important policy and industry updates

• Gain practical tools to support business operations

• Participate in meaningful dialogue with leadership

• Network with fellow providers and industry partners

• Enjoy hosted lunch and additional engagement opportunities

Events will be held in Auburn, Spokane, and Vancouver to support accessibility across regions.

Beware: You May Be Using the Incorrect Clearinghouse

We’ve recently learned that some Adult Family Home providers may be enrolling in the wrong clearinghouse for Managed Care Organization (MCO) claims. This can lead to unnecessary fees, delays, and billing complications that may impact your reimbursement.

For providers billing for Community Behavioral Health Support (CBHS) or Intensive Behavioral Supportive Supervision (IBSS) services, the correct system to use is the CHPS Adult Family Home Claims Clearinghouse. This is the authorized platform and does not require providers to pay to submit MCO claims.

If you are being asked to pay a fee, or if something doesn’t seem right during the enrollment process, it’s important to pause and verify that you are using the correct clearinghouse.

Using the wrong system can result in avoidable issues, including delays in claims processing, confusion about submission requirements, and potential interruptions in payment.

AFHC Phone System Update

We’re excited to share that our new phone system is now live! This was designed based on your feedback to improve your experience when contacting the Council.

We heard your concerns about calls going straight to voicemail, and this new system is built to address that. When you call, you can now select the department you need right away, helping you connect faster without unnecessary transfers.

For member support, you now have the option to wait on hold for the next available team member or choose to leave a voicemail at any time. No more being sent directly to voicemail when staff are assisting other members.

Thank you for your feedback and for helping us improve our services.

COMMING SOON:  Updated Worker Safety Awareness Program

We’re excited to share that a refreshed version of one of our most useful safety training resources is almost here. On June 16, 2026, the updated Adult Family Home Industry Worker Safety Awareness Program launches with new training designed to make workplace safety clearer, easier, and more practical for providers and staff.

The new e-course includes more than 45 short interactive micro-modules, educational PDFs, knowledge checks, and quizzes, with each module taking 15 minutes or less to complete. Topics include PPE, ergonomics, hazardous drugs, and other everyday safety concerns, along with L&I safety rules, requirements, and regulations.

Participants will also earn continuing education credit upon completion and leave with practical tools to help create a safer work environment and reduce injuries in Adult Family Homes. The goal is simple: better safety for your team and better care for the people you serve.

Watch for more details coming in May. We’re looking forward to bringing this updated program to members!

Treating Residents with respiratory infections

As respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV continue to impact our communities, it’s important for Adult Family Home providers to follow proper infection control practices to protect residents and staff.

Residents showing symptoms should be tested promptly and isolated, even if symptoms are mild. Key precautions include using appropriate PPE, maintaining distance, ensuring good ventilation, and following proper infection control protocols when caring for infected individuals.

These steps are essential in reducing the spread of illness and protecting vulnerable populations in your care.

Staying informed and prepared helps ensure the safety of both residents and staff.

Claiming While clients in Hospital

This is a reminder that AFH Providers cannot receive payment for residential services or in-home personal care services once a client has been admitted to the hospital.

Each month, DSHS processes thousands of dollars in provider overpayments due to providers claiming while the client was in the hospital. To avoid an overpayment, AFH Providers must notify the client’s case manager/social worker within one day of a client’s hospitalization. The case manager/social worker can then authorize the bed hold.

Providers can reach out to Member Support if they have questions or concerns around billing for provided services.

Phone: (360) 754-3329

Email: info@adultfamilyhomecouncil.org

Webinar Recording Available: Complaint Investigations in AFHs

If you missed our April 14th AFHC Learning Lab webinar, Complaint Investigations in Adult Family Homes, or would like to revisit the material, the full recording and supporting resources are now available.

Led by AFHC Regulatory Support Director Maleia Press, this session provides a detailed walkthrough of the complaint investigation process. Topics include how public complaints and Facility Reported Incidents (FRIs) are handled, expected response timelines, what happens during interviews and exit conferences, and the range of possible outcomes providers may encounter.

We are also sharing additional materials to support your learning, including the presentation slides, a resource handout, and follow-up Q&A. These tools are designed to help you better understand the process and feel more prepared if your home is involved in an investigation.

Continue the Learning Series

This webinar is part of a three-part regulatory series focused on inspections, investigations, and citations.

The final session, Citations, Consultations, and More, will take place on May 21 from 2:00–3:00 PM. This session will cover Statements of Deficiency (SODs), Plans of Correction (POCs), Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR), follow-up visits, and what to expect after a regulatory visit or investigation.

AFHC Spring Conference Forum – Question Submission

Have a Question for Council Leadership?

The AFH Council is excited to host a Q&A session with Council Leadership, including the Interim Executive Director, Board Chair, and your regional representatives at the 2026 Spring Conferences.

This is a great opportunity for members to connect directly with Council Leadership, ask questions, and share the issues that matter most to Adult Family Home providers.

From council operations and board governance to the bigger challenges facing AFHs, this forum is designed to encourage open conversation, provide candid answers, and help members gain a clearer understanding of the Council’s direction and priorities.

Please submit your questions by 11:59 PM Today.

Adult Family Home Claims & Billing Trainings Now Available Through AFHC

The Council has partnered with the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and Community Health Partnership Services (CHPS) to bring Adult Family Home Claims & Billing trainings directly to the AFHC webinar platform.

These are the same CHPS-led trainings, now easier to access with simplified registration through the Council. Participants will also receive 2.0 Continuing Education Credits.

These sessions are designed to help providers better understand the new clearinghouse system, including how to register, submit claims for CBHS and IBSS services, complete enrollment, and navigate common billing challenges.

Upcoming Training Dates

• May 8 at 1:00 PM

• May 11 at 11:00 AM

• May 18 at 1:00 PM

• May 26 at 2:00 PM

We understand this transition has created challenges, and we appreciate the feedback you’ve shared. Offering these trainings through the AFHC platform is one way we’re working to better support you.

Proposed Change to Your AFH Licensing Rules – What You Need to Know

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has filed proposed updates to Adult Family Home licensing rules (Chapter 388-76 WAC), now in the formal rulemaking phase. These changes may impact several areas of your operations, and providers are encouraged to review and share feedback.

The proposed updates include changes to ombuds access and resident records, adjustments to licensing requirements for multiple-home providers, and new considerations for the physical environment, such as door width standards and approval for certain building modifications. There are also updates related to emergency preparedness and clarification around Plans of Correction (POCs).

How to Share Your Feedback

Providers have two options to submit formal comments:

Public Hearing
May 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM (virtual)

Written Comments Deadline
Must be submitted by 5:00 PM on May 26, 2026
Email: DSHSRPAURulesCoodinator@dshs.wa.gov

Social Leave feedback Sessions for Adult Family Homes

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is inviting Adult Family Home providers, advocates, and community members to share feedback on the use of Social Leave for Medicaid clients living in AFHs.

This is an opportunity to help shape how Social Leave is implemented and ensure provider perspectives are heard.

Upcoming sessions for providers:

• May 14, 2026 | 9:00 – 11:00 AM

• June 1, 2026 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM

Registration by April 30 is encouraged, but you may sign up anytime before your session.

Building Your Toolbox: Who, What, Why
April 29  |  9:00AM – 10:30AM

The training course allows participants to identify mental health support, medical support, social service support, community support, skills and tools, and guiding values for better care.

1.5 CEU available to all AFH Council Member who attend.

Adult Family Home Claims & Billing Webinar
April 29  |  9:00AM – 10:00AM

This webinar is hosted by the Adult Family Home Council (AFHC) and taught by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) team. The session introduces the new Adult Family Home Clearinghouse, designed to simplify how AFHs work with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. Participants will learn how the system works, how to register for and use the online platform, and how to accurately submit claims for CBHS and IBSS services. The training will also cover provider enrollment, key Medicaid billing guidelines, and common troubleshooting tips to help providers navigate the new process with confidence.

2.0 CEU available to all AFH Council Member who attend.

Adult Family Home Claims & Billing Webinar

April 30 |  10:00AM – 11:00AM

This webinar is hosted by the Adult Family Home Council (AFHC) and taught by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) team. The session introduces the new Adult Family Home Clearinghouse, designed to simplify how AFHs work with Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. Participants will learn how the system works, how to register for and use the online platform, and how to accurately submit claims for CBHS and IBSS services. The training will also cover provider enrollment, key Medicaid billing guidelines, and common troubleshooting tips to help providers navigate the new process with confidence.

2.0 CEU available to all AFH Council Member who attend.

2026 Policies and Procedures Training Series, Session 2: Financial Eligibility
       May 05  | 9:00AM- 10:30PM

This training series provides up-to-date information on policies and procedures related to services residents may receive through Washington State’s Home and Community Living Administration. Presented by subject matter experts from Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS) and Home and Community Services (HCS), each session focuses on key areas that impact adult family home operations, including eligibility, rates and payments, nursing services, and other essential program requirements. Participants will gain practical insight into how these policies affect care, documentation, and service coordination for residents receiving state-supported services.

1.5 CEU available to all AFH Council Member who attend.

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