WAC 388-501-0125 Advance directives. In this section "advance directive" means a written instruction, recognized under state law, relating to the provision of health care when an individual is incapacitated.
     (1) All agencies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and facilities including hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing and nursing facilities, and providers of in-home care services that serve medical assistance clients eighteen years of age or older must have written policies and procedures concerning advance directives.
     (2) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must give the following information to each adult client, in writing and orally, and in a language the client understands:
     (a) A statement about the client's right to:
     (i) Make decisions concerning the client's medical care;
     (ii) Accept or refuse surgical or medical treatment;
     (iii) Execute an advance directive;
     (iv) Revoke an advance directive at any time;
     (b) The written policies of the agency, HMO, or facility concerning advance directives, including any policy that would preclude it from honoring the client's advance directive; and
     (c) The client's rights under state law.
     (3) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must provide the information described in subsection (2) of this section to adult clients as follows:
     (a) Hospitals at the time the client is admitted as an inpatient;
     (b) Nursing facilities at the time the client is admitted as a resident;
     (c) Providers of in-home care services before the client comes under the care of the provider or at the time of the first home visit so long as it is provided prior to care being rendered;
     (d) Hospice programs at the time the client initially receives hospice care from the program; and
     (e) HMOs at the time the client enrolls with the organization.
     (4) If the client is incapacitated at the time of admittance or enrollment and is unable to receive information or articulate whether or not the client has executed an advance directive, the agencies, HMOs, and facilities:
     (a) May give information about advance directives to the person authorized by RCW 7.70.065 to make decisions regarding the client's health care;
     (b) Must document in the client's file that the client was unable to communicate whether an advance directive exists if no one comes forward with a previously executed advance directive; and
     (c) Must give the information described in subsection (2) to the client once the client is no longer incapacitated.
     (5) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must:
     (a) Review each client's medical record prior to admittance or enrollment to determine if the client has an advance directive;
     (b) Honor the directive or follow the process explained in subsection (6); and
     (c) Not refuse, put conditions on care, or otherwise discriminate against a client based on whether or not the client has executed an advance directive.
     (6) If an agency, HMO, or facility has a policy or practice that would keep it from honoring a client's advance directive, the facility or organization must:
     (a) Tell the client prior to admission or enrollment or when the client executes the directive;
     (b) Provide the client with a statement clarifying the differences between institution-wide conscience objections and those that may be raised by individual physicians and explaining the range of medical conditions or procedures affected;
     (c) Prepare and keep a written plan of intended actions according to the requirements in RCW 70.122.060 if the client still chooses to retain the facility or organization; and
     (d) Make a good faith effort to transfer the client to another health care practitioner who will honor the directive if the client chooses not to retain the facility or organization.
     (7) A health care practitioner may refuse to implement a directive, and may not be discriminated against by the facility or organization for refusing to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.
     (8) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must document, in a prominent place in each client's medical record, whether or not the client has executed an advance directive.
     (9) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must educate staff and the community on issues concerning advance directives.
     (10) The agencies, HMOs, and facilities must comply with state and federal laws and regulations concerning advance directives, including but not limited to: 42 USC 1396a, subsection (w); 42 CFR 417.436; 42 CFR 489 Subpart I; and chapter 70.122 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.035. 00-19-050, § 388-501-0125, filed 9/14/00, effective 10/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 94-10-065 (Order 3732), § 388-501-0125, filed 5/3/94, effective 6/3/94. Formerly WAC 388-81-017.]

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