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| | AFH COUNCIL UPDATES September 5th, 2025 |
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| | Message From Executive Director |
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| Friends – hopefully, some or all of you had an opportunity for some rest and relaxation on or near Labor Day – a Day when we salute our nation’s workers. In the world of Adult Family Homes, our caregivers provide vital care to individuals with disabilities, illnesses, and the elderly every single day. Let us each take a moment to give thanks for and to the caregivers in our midst and in our homes whose dedication, selfless care, and unique skills make the lives of vulnerable adults in our homes better, safer and more fulfilling and meaningful. You are all superheroes in our midst daily – and we thank you beyond words. Best, Bob “There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” – Rosalynn Carter. |
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| | Only 19 Days Until Fall Conference! |
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| | We’re just 19 days away from our Annual Fall Conference, and the excitement is building! We’re releasing a rough draft of the schedule—please remember it’s subject to change as we finalize sessions, speakers, and activities. Spots are filling quickly, so now is the time to secure your place to learn, network, and recharge with providers from across the state. This year’s event will feature over 20 speakers, a vendor showcase, the Legacy Vision Hour: Guided by Legacy, Driven by Purpose and Shaping Our Future, and a powerful keynote address by Renee Smith, MSOD, founder of A Human Workplace LLC, titled “Leading with Love in Organization Transformation.” It’s shaping up to be one of our most engaging conferences yet! As you prepare, here are a few conference etiquette tips to help make the experience valuable for everyone: All the details for lodging, registration, and the latest schedule are available on our website—check it out today and get ready for an incredible event! |
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| | | | HCLA Drop-In Session: House Bill 1218 and New Communication Rules |
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| Beginning September 6, 2025, important new rules will take effect for Adult Family Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Enhanced Services Facilities, and Nursing Homes. These changes implement Substitute House Bill 1218 (2021) and are designed to improve communication within facilities, between residents and their families, and with community partners such as ombuds and emergency assistance providers. To help providers and administrators prepare, Residential Care Services is hosting a series of drop-in sessions. These sessions will provide an overview of the rule changes and allow time for questions. No registration is required, and all interested parties are welcome to attend. These updates represent a significant step toward ensuring stronger connections, better support, and improved transparency across long-term care settings. |
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| | | | DOH Confirms COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance with New Standing Order |
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| As we head into the fall season, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has issued a new Standing Order for the COVID-19 vaccine, making it easier for residents 6 months and older to get vaccinated without an individual prescription. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations is especially important during this time of year, when respiratory illnesses tend to rise, to help protect yourself, your family, and your community from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Most private insurers, Apple Health, and state vaccine programs cover the vaccine, removing barriers and improving access. This initiative reflects Washington’s ongoing commitment to science-driven public health policy, in collaboration with other West Coast states through the West Coast Health Alliance. |
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| | | | Introducing the AFH Council Online Campus: Your Resource for Staff CE and Training |
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| We’re excited to announce a new resource for Adult Family Home providers! When you visit the For AFH Providers tab on our homepage, you’ll now see a new option called Online Campus. This hub is designed to make it easy for you and your staff to access continuing education (CE) opportunities, training materials, and other resources to support quality care in your homes. Through the Online Campus, you can quickly find approved CE courses, track training progress for your team, and stay up to date with the latest best practices in long-term care. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting providers with practical tools that help enhance knowledge, compliance, and overall resident care. |
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| | | Behavioral Health Support Team Services for LTC Providers |
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| In response to recent calls from members about challenging resident behaviors, we want to remind providers that the Behavioral Health Support Team (BHST) has support available. BHST has shifted Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Consultants (BQICs) from resident-specific consultations to a teaching model focused on behavioral health, care, and regulatory topics. Providers can access Provider Support Meetings to explore facility-specific interests and monthly Open Office Hours for informal Q&A on staff-selected topics. Traditional BHST training continues, offering strategies to manage challenging behaviors while maintaining compliance. These resources, available since June, are designed to help providers navigate behavioral health challenges and enhance care. |
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| | | | | We’re excited to invite all Adult Family Home owners to a special opportunity to connect with Home and Community Services (HCS) leadership. Deputy Director of Field Operations and Regional Administrators will be on hand to share updates, provide education, and discuss topics that matter most to providers. This event is a chance to strengthen communication, ask questions, and work together toward our shared goal of providing high-quality long-term care for Washington’s most vulnerable residents. |
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| | | Planned ProviderOne Outage This Weekend |
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| The Health Care Authority (HCA) has scheduled system maintenance for ProviderOne beginning Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 5:30 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. This planned outage will last approximately 26.5 hours. During this time, the ProviderOne system will be unavailable. However, it is important to note that this outage will not affect the Pharmacy Point-of-Sale (POS) system. Pharmacies will still be able to submit claims as usual, and faxes may continue to be sent. Any faxes received during the outage will be processed once the system is back online. |
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| | | AFHC Trainings and Events |
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| | | Stay Up-To-Date with Our Upcoming Events and Webinars! |
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| | | | | | | | | P: 1.360.754.3329 | F: 1.360.943.6653 | T: 1.888.439.8999 3309 Capitol Blvd. SW, Tumwater, WA 98501 |
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