In carrying out the administrative responsibility of this chapter or other applicable law, the department or authority, as appropriate:
(1) May contract with an individual or a group, may utilize existing local state public assistance offices, or establish separate welfare medical care offices on a county or multicounty unit basis as found necessary; and
(2) Shall determine both financial and functional eligibility for persons applying for long-term care services under chapter 74.39 or 74.39A RCW as a unified process in a single long-term care organizational unit.