Press Room

November 7th, 2006

Home Care Quality Authority Selects New Executive Director

OLYMPIA— Charles Reed, Chair of the Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) is pleased to announce that the Board of the HCQA has named Rick Hall as the Authority’s new Executive Director.  As the Executive Director, Hall will be responsible for representing and advocating for the mission and goals of the HCQA.  Among his duties, Hall will oversee the Authority’s staff in carrying out decisions of the Board, managing numerous state contracts and coordinating the Authority’s activities with numerous stakeholders that include other agencies, advocates, consumer/employers and workers. Hall will begin work for the HCQA on Nov 16, 2006.

Hall replaces former Executive Director Mindy Schaffner who recently left the Authority to complete her program of study at the University of Washington. 

Hall is not new to the Home Care Quality Authority.  He served as the state’s chief negotiator through the historic first rounds of bargaining with SEIU 775, the Home Care Workers’ union, in 2002 while serving as labor relations manager for the Authority.  During his tenure, Hall played a leading role in managing and resolving the many complex issues involved in implementation of the home care workers’ first contract.  “That first contract required a total immersion in long term care issues,” states Hall.  Hall later returned as the state’s chief negotiator and Governor’s designee for collective bargaining over new contract agreements in 2004 and 2006 while working for the Office of Financial Management (OFM).

“I am pleased and honored that the Home Care Quality Authority has selected me to be the next Executive Director,” states Hall.  “The Authority’s former Executive Director, Mindy Schaffner and the HCQA staff have established a tradition of success in providing services to the Authority and to consumers of long-term in-home care services.  I am excited for this opportunity to ensure continued improvement in the quality of in-home care services for the citizens of the state of Washington.  I look forward to being a part of the HCQA and working together to build upon that tradition of success that strives to develop and maintain an atmosphere of understanding, cooperation, and productivity. “

Hall began working for the State of the Washington in 1981 and served at the Department of Social and Health Services.  After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 1988, Hall left state service and worked with labor unions until returning to DSHS in 2000.  Hall has served many years in executive level management positions.  In addition, he has extensive experience in directing state-wide programs and has worked successfully in representing the Authority’s interests through collective bargaining to the legislature, the Governor’s Office and OFM.      

Hall lives in Tacoma with his wife, Janine, and has two grown children. (end)

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October 8, 2006
Home Care Quality Authority Expands In-Home Referral Registry Services Statewide

OLYMPIA – The Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) will open additional Referral and Workforce Resource Centers (RWRC's) this month.  This final expansion will bring the RWRC’s across the entire state.  The Resource Centers provide referrals to people with disabilities and seniors who receive Medicaid in-home services.  They also offer job opportunities for qualified people who would like to work as in-home caregivers.   The newest locations include:  Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Pacific counties.

The RWRC's are supported by the innovative technology of the Referral Registry. The Registry is a web-based search and match tool that connects the most suitable workers with those who need in-home services. Other states have been interested in the establishment of a Referral Registry and have looked to the HCQA for guidance on this process. Michigan has already adapted Washington's registry for statewide use; Oregon is also modifying the Referral Registry through the Oregon Home Care Commission.

The Home Care Quality Authority is a state agency that is responsible for improving the quality of long term, in-home services provided by individual providers through improved regulations, higher standards, increased accountability, and the enhanced ability of consumers to obtain services. In addition, the Authority was created to encourage stability in the individual provider work force.  To learn more about the HCQA and the Referral and Workforce Resource Centers, visit www.hcqa.wa.gov or call 1-800-970-5456 and ask for the Referral Center in your area. (end)

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August 2, 2006
Home Care Quality Authority Expands In-Home Referral and Registry Services
OLYMPIA – The Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) has recently opened additional Referral and Workforce Resource Centers (RWRCs) across the state. The RWRCs help people with disabilities and seniors who receive Medicaid in-home services to find and hire pre-screened and qualified in-home providers.  They also offer job opportunities for qualified people who would like to work as in-home caregivers. 

The RWRCs now operate in thirty counties: Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island, Pierce, Kitsap, Spokane, Whitman, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Snohomish, Thurston, Lewis and Mason.  The new locations include King County in western Washington and Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties in eastern Washington. The RWRCs are supported by the innovative technology of the Referral Registry. The Registry is a web-based search and match tool that connects the most suitable worker with those who need in-home services. 

Mindy Schaffner, Executive Director of the Authority, notes that "individuals with disabilities and seniors of long-term care services want to remain as independent as possible in their communities.  Combining the technology of the Referral Registry with the personal support available through the staff at Referral and Workforce Resource Centers are helping to accomplish this goal."

The Home Care Quality Authority is a state agency that is responsible for improving the quality of long-term, in-home services provided by individual providers through improved regulations, higher standards, increased accountability, and the enhanced ability of consumers to obtain services. To learn more about the HCQA and the Referral and Workforce Resource Centers, visit www.hcqa.wa.gov  or call 1-800-970-5456 and ask for the Referral Center in your area. (end)

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January 20, 2006
Home Care Quality Authority Prepares to Expand In-Home Referral and Registry Services

Olympia – The Home Care Quality Authority (HCQA) will open additional Referral and Workforce Resource Centers (RWRC’s) across the state this month.   The RWRC’s provide referrals to people with disabilities and seniors who receive Medicaid in-home services.  They also offer job opportunities for qualified people who would like to work as in-home caregivers.  The RWRC’s will now operate in twenty-three counties: Kittitas, Yakima. Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island, Pierce, Kitsap, Spokane, Whitman, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Snohomish, Thurston, Lewis and Mason.    Mindy Schaffner, Executive Director of the Authority, notes that “individuals with disabilities and seniors of long term care services would like to remain as independent as possible in their communities and the RWRC’s were created to accomplish this.”  
The RWRC’s are supported by dedicated staff and the innovative technology of the Referral Registry.  The Registry is a web-based search and match tool that connects the most suitable workers with those who need in-home services.   Other states have been interested in the establishment of a Referral Registry and have looked to the HCQA for guidance on this process.  Michigan has already adapted Washington’s registry for statewide use; Oregon is also preparing to bring the Referral Registry process to their state.
The Home Care Quality Authority is a state agency that is responsible for improving the quality of long term, in-home services provided by individual providers through improved regulations, higher standards, increased accountability, and the enhanced ability of consumers to obtain services. In addition, the Authority was created to encourage stability in the individual provider work force.  To learn more about the HCQA and the Referral and Workforce Resource Centers, visit www.hcqa.wa.gov   or call 1-800-970-5456 and ask for the Referral Center in your area.
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