Advocacy

WACCRA has been advocating with the Washington State Legislature on behalf of CCRC residents since 2014. During its first year, WACCRA worked on legislation (See Link) that would address the needs of CCRC residents; legislation that was missing prior to our work. Since the original regulation was passed in 2016, WACCRA has continued to work to improve the protections of that regulation. 

In 2019, we were able to get a bill through the House of Representatives, but it failed to pass the Senate. In follow-up to that effort, we worked collaboratively with LeadingAge Washington and CCRC management teams to develop the “Commitment to CCRC Practices” (See Link) which was signed and became effective in January 2021. In part due to the COVID pandemic, the Practices were not fully implemented. Some CCRCs have fully embraced their intent, while others have ignored the document.

WACCRA worked with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner in 2021 and 2022 to help them understand issues faced by CCRC residents. The result of that work was a study commissioned by the Washington Legislature comparing Washington’s protections to the regulations of CCRCs in other states. That report highlighted that Washington’s regulations provided substantially less protection, and it called for improved financial transparency, improved consumer protection, and meaningful enforcement. (See Link).

In 2023, the Legislature directed the Department of Social and Health Services to work with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Attorney General’s Office (DSHS/OIC/AGO) and key stakeholders to prepare recommendation to the Legislature on improved CCRC regulations. WACCRA prepared a detailed presentation for the regulators to present our legislative goals. (See Presentation). Their report is due to the legislature in December 2024.

In addition to advocating for our own legislative agenda, we work to support the legislative agendas of like-minded, senior-focused advocacy groups. For example, in the 2024 legislative session the “Nothing About Us Without Us” bill was signed into law. It gives seniors with disabilities due to aging the ability to be on state advisory boards.