Legislation continues get-tough laws against abuse of defenseless and susceptible citizens
OLYMPIA – State Rep. Jim Moeller’s legislation strengthening protections for vulnerable adults has cleared both legislative chambers. The measure now needs only House of Representatives concurrence with relatively minor Senate amendments before heading off to find a spot on the governor’s desk.
Moeller’s House Bill 1494 establishes needed standards for agencies that refer citizens to programs and services.
“The majority of referral agencies do a good job matching senior citizens with appropriate services,” Moeller said. “Fortunately most of the time, there’s no problem at all. But yes, there are those agencies that fall way short of meeting their responsibilities, sometimes endangering the health and well-being of very vulnerable adults.”
The standards created in the legislation involve matters such as fees/refunds, recordkeeping, disclosure statements, and intake forms.
Moeller explained that his bill would require a disclosure form including “clear and cogent information acknowledged by the senior citizen about what the agency does and doesn’t do, fees (if any), refund policies, and directions for making a complaint to the Attorney General. An intake form to assist with a proper referral (i.e., information on any medical conditions, special diets, behaviors or cultural needs) would also need to be completed.”
Agencies violating regulations pertaining to elderly referral and vulnerable-adult referral could be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act, according to other terms of Moeller’s bill.
Moeller cited cases in which clients have been told that services they are receiving are free-of-charge, when in fact the services turned out not to be free-of-charge at all.
“There are no free lunches. Eventually, the senior citizen pays,” Moeller said. “In some cases assessments have been conducted over the phone and inappropriate placements have been made.”
The measure requires referral agencies to provide a disclosure statement to each client and have the client acknowledge receipt of the statement. The statement would have to include a description of services to be provided, the amount of fee to be charged, and the time and method of payment.