Palliative care benefit work group

The work group must submit a report to the Legislature detailing its work and any recommendations by November 1, 2025. The work group must consider the following elements of a palliative care benefit: 

  • Clinical eligibility criteria; 
  • The services included in a palliative care benefit; 
  • Appropriate staffing, including staffing models and provider training; 
  • Evaluation criteria and reporting requirements; and 
  • Payment models. 

Work group meetings

Apr. 17, 2025

Jan. 7, 2025

Oct. 23, 2024 

July 11, 2024

Work group members 

Name  Organization 
Nico Janssen Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Heather Schultz  Health Care Authority 
Peter Graham  Department of Social and Health Services 
Mandy Latchaw  Department of Health 
Christine Gibert Health Benefit Exchange 
Barb Hansen  Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization 
Shelby Moore Heartlinks Hospice and Palliative Care 
Marsha Flowers Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care
Gregg VandeKieft Providence St. Peter Hospital 
C. Maura deOiveira EvergreenHealth Hospice 
James Fausto  UW Medicine for Washington State Hospital Association 
Ryan Larson  Harbor Home Health and Hospice for Home Care Association of Washington 
Lyle Dollarhide PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for Washington State Nurses Association 
Carrie Parks Kaiser Permanente for Association of Washington Health Care Plans
Jennifer Curry  Regence BlueShield
Chris Rakunas  Wellpoint 
Drew Oliveria Washington Health Alliance 
Nico Janssen; Jane Beyer; Sharon Daniel Project Team, Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Adult family home liability market study work group

The working group will:

  • Review the availability and cost of liability insurance for adult family homes
  • Identify obstacles to adult family homes' access to liability insurance including underwriting restrictions, market conditions, as well as legal and regulatory requirements
  • Evaluate the financial risk to adult family homes, their residents, the state Medicaid program and others that exist as a result of the increased cost of insurance, or in the event adult family homes are uninsured due to a lack of access to coverage
  • Make policy recommendations to improve access to liability insurance coverage for adult family homes

A preliminary report is due by December 31, 2024. A final report is due by June 30, 2025.

Work group preliminary report

Work group meetings

June 17 meeting

Work group meeting agenda, materials, and recordings

Aug. 28, Sept. 25, and Oct. 23 meetings

  • The August, September, and October work group meetings were canceled to allow for 1:1 interviews and data collection.

July 24 meeting

June 26 meeting

Work group members

Adult family home liability market study work group members
Name Organization
Bryon Welch Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Amber Leaders Office of the Governor
Kelly Richburg Office of the Attorney General
Cathy Kinnamon DSHS ALTSA - Home and Community Services
Colleen Jensen DSHS ALTSA - Residential Care Services
Saif Hakim DSHS Developmental Disabilities Administration
Joy Erven Surplus Line Association of Washington
Hope Reffett Adult Family Home Council
Courtney Williams Adult Family Home Council
Rebecca Thompson Fortiphi Insurance
Raelena Marsh Cochrane and Company
Sherri Sheidler MiniCo Insurance Agency
Katie Baierlein MiniCo Insurance Agency
Vince Terlaje MiniCo Insurance Agency
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