"Judge: DSHS owes $96 million to caregivers" Thurston County Washington DSHS

"As lawmakers work to close a $2 billion state budget shortfall, a cost-savings decision from eight years ago could ultimately prove expensive.

A Thurston County judge on Friday ruled the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) owes about 22,000 home-care workers almost $96 million in back pay and accrued interest.

Though DSHS plans to appeal the ruling, each day of delay could cost the state more than $30,000 in interest charges if the caregivers were to prevail, according to the plaintiffs' attorney.

Kirkland attorney Greg McBroom, who represents the caregivers in the class-action lawsuit, said the state illegally cut benefits without first assessing DSHS clients' individual needs. He said many of the Medicaid beneficiaries had medical conditions that required extensive care.

Friday's ruling by Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee came down almost a year after a Thurston County jury found that DSHS shortchanged the workers, awarding the plaintiffs $57 million in back pay."

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