If you're planning an adult family home move in Washington, you'll eventually ask the same question: how much does the mandatory RN assessment cost?
It's a fair question, and the answer matters for your budget and your timeline. Here's the straightforward picture.
The baseline: $450
The pre-placement assessment in Washington is a licensed RN service, completed in the home, with a written report. At Seattle Nurse Delegation, it's a flat $450 — one fee, no hourly surprises, with the written report delivered within 48 hours.
That flat rate is the industry-standard baseline in the Seattle area, though a few providers charge hourly rates that can creep up if a resident's review runs long.
Why isn't it covered by insurance?
This is the part families are most surprised by:
- Medicare does not cover pre-placement assessments — they're not a medically necessary treatment, they're a placement requirement.
- Medicaid/DSHS may cover the assessment through the facility's provider contract in some cases, but families paying privately should expect to cover it directly.
- The cost is borne by whoever is managing the placement — most commonly the family, or the facility as part of its move-in process.
Who usually pays?
In practice, the cost is absorbed in one of a few ways:
- The family pays directly as part of the move-in budget
- The facility covers it and builds it into the first month's rate
- Split — family pays the RN, facility handles the paperwork
The important thing: someone has to pay for it, and it has to happen before move-in. It's worth confirming who's covering it early in your conversations with the home.
What you're paying for
The $450 covers real work:
- A licensed RN evaluating your parent in the home
- Review of medical history, medications, mobility, cognitive status, and daily-living needs
- Determination of what the facility can safely delegate
- A written report within 48 hours the facility uses for the care plan
How to protect your timeline
Two costs actually matter here: the dollar cost and the schedule cost.
- The dollar cost is small relative to a $6,000–$10,000 monthly AFH rate.
- The schedule cost is the real risk — if the assessment isn't done before your planned move-in date, the move gets delayed, and a delay in senior care can cascade.
The way to protect both is to book early and choose a provider with a fast turnaround. Our assessment is flat $450 with a written report within 48 hours, so it won't hold up your move. Want to see exactly what happens on the visit? Read what happens during an adult family home assessment, or book your assessment now.