Spotlight on care options with WA Cares
After WA Cares Fund benefits are approved, the next step is finding the right provider(s) for you and agreeing on services together.
Studies show that 70% of Washingtonians will need long-term care at some point in their lives. As Washington state’s population continues aging, the need for long-term care will only increase — as will the costs and obligations for family caregivers.
Our program was created to serve beneficiaries and their families by providing an alternate fund to draw from when paying for services and supports. In addition, our program helps beneficiaries find the right providers for their needs.
After you qualify for benefits, you can use the online WA Cares Provider Network Directory to search for providers registered with WA Cares. You can search by service type, location or both — seeing what providers are available statewide or by county. Each provider listing on our directory includes:
- The provider’s name
- Service(s) they provide
- Their contact information
- Any additional languages they offer
“If you find more than one provider for the service you’re interested in, we recommend that you compare them because costs can vary for services between different providers and different locations,” said Chantelle, Provider Policy and Network Development Manager. “Visit their personal websites, if available, and call or email each provider to ask about the services they offer, their estimated costs and any other questions you might have.”
Once you settle on a provider, confirm if your WA Cares balance has enough funds for their services. Then, contact the provider directly to agree on:
- The service(s) you will receive
- Any preferences or specific needs you might have
- Rate or cost for the service(s)
- Dates of service, as applicable
“After you’ve reached an agreement, the provider submits a pre-authorization, which includes the services, rates and dates you agreed on,” explained Kristine, Provider Network Development Program Manager.
The pre-authorization is submitted for your approval through your WA Cares account. A notification will appear on your account dashboard and the total cost of the pre-authorization will be subtracted from your available balance.
You can review the pre-authorization for accuracy to make sure it’s what you agreed on with the provider and then approve or deny it. If you deny the pre-authorization, the provider will receive a notification and may contact you to discuss next steps. If you approve the pre-authorization, the provider will proceed with offering you the services as agreed upon.
“You can find all approved or denied pre-authorizations, as well as your fund balance and benefit activity history, on your WA Cares account,” said Janice, Benefits Authorization Program Manager.
To learn more about choosing a provider and finding care options with WA Cares, please watch a replay of our webinar.