HB4733 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 19048 AMC 44783 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4733

Introduced 2/4/2004, by Elizabeth Coulson - Carolyn H. Krause - Sandra M. Pihos - Ruth Munson, Rosemary Mulligan, et al.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Long-term Care Options Program Act. Provides that the Governor shall create a Long-Term Care Options Program, administered by the Department on Aging in coordination with the Departments of Public Aid and Public Health, to establish a single point-of-entry system that assures ease of access to and coordination of community-based long-term care services for all seniors. Provides that the Options Program shall build upon the knowledge and expertise of the systems already in place such as the area agencies on aging, care coordination units, and senior centers. Creates the Long-Term Care Options Council. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning long-term care.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Long-term Care Options Program Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of the Long-term Care Options Program is to help all seniors aged 60 and older with long-term or chronic care needs make decisions and select care options that meet their needs and reflect their preferences for long-term care. The availability of and access to information and other types of assistance is also intended to prevent or delay unnecessary nursing facility placements and to provide transition assistance back to the community after admission, if deemed appropriate by timely re-assessments.

Section 10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:

"Agency" means a single point of entry agency.

"Department" means the Department on Aging.

"Options Program" means the Long-term Care Options Program established under this Act.

Section 15. Long-term Care Options Program.

(a) The Governor shall create a Long-Term Care Options Program to establish a single point-of-entry system that assures ease of access to and coordination of community-based long-term care services for all seniors.

(b) The Options Program shall be administered by the Department on Aging in coordination with the Departments of Public Aid and Public Health. The Department shall assure that a single point of entry system exists and is accessible in all planning and service areas. The Options Program shall build upon the knowledge and expertise of the systems already in place such as the area agencies on aging, care coordination units, and senior centers. The Department shall also make every effort to streamline services in the planning and service areas by eliminating, merging, and consolidating redundant or duplicative services.

(c) In developing a budget for the Options Program, the Department may phase in implementation, based on available appropriations and incorporate funding from other State and federal programs, including but not limited to the medical assistance program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, the Older Americans Act, federal systems change grants under the New Freedom Initiative, general revenue funds, foundation funding, and other sources of funding identified by the State of Illinois for any services that would or could be provided under the Options Program.

(d) In consultation with the Council created under Section 25, the Department shall create a uniform name, identity, public information campaign, and logo to be used throughout the State, and designate the types of agencies that should use that name, identity, and logo.

Section 20. Single point of entry agencies.

(a) A comprehensive, up-to-date information database on all available senior services and benefit programs shall be accessible through each single point-of-entry agency to seniors and their families upon request or as needed. The agency shall have trained staff to respond to the questions and concerns of inquirers. The agency must publicize its services and offer information about long-term care more generally through culturally sensitive public information campaigns. It must reach out to and educate first-line-of-contact individuals, including but not limited to physicians, clergy, pharmacists, legislative staff, other State agencies, librarians, and other professionals. The agency shall determine appropriate and acceptable referrals and determine which individuals require further care planning and coordination.

(b) Upon request, the agency shall assess and provide comprehensive care planning and coordination for seniors and their caregivers towards the objective of identifying and arranging appropriate long-term care services. Services shall be provided regardless of the restrictions on eligibility for any publicly funded program. These services shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Comprehensive, timely client assessment to identify the needs of the senior and the family using standardized assessment tools.

(2) Development of a care plan based on the assessment.

(3) Assistance in implementing the care plan, including determination of eligibility for available programs and assistance in applying for such programs.

(4) Arranging for an adequate level of services that allows a person to stay at home if this is the most cost-effective approach.

(5) Reassessment of the client as needed to accommodate changes in physical, emotional, or mental conditions and providing other follow-up as needed.

(6) Pre-admission consultation and screening before entering a nursing facility.

(7) Community reintegration assistance for seniors who have been admitted to a nursing facility and would prefer to return to their home.

Section 25. Long-term Care Options Council.

(a) There is hereby created a Long-term Care Options Council consisting to the following members:

(1) The Director of Aging or his or her designee.

(2) The Director of Public Aid or his or her designee.

(3) The Director of Public Health or his or her designee.

(4) The Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee.

(5) Representatives of the following appointed by the Governor:

(A) Community care unit providers.

(B) Area agencies on aging.

(C) Advocacy organizations.

(D) Nursing facilities.

(E) Senior center directors.

(F) Consumers.

(G) Researchers.

(b) The Council shall be geographically, ethnically, and racially diverse.

(c) The Council shall have the responsibility to:

(1) develop protocols for single point of entry agencies with appropriate benchmarks for evaluation of outreach efforts, intake processes, assessments, care management, pre-admission screening, and client follow-up;

(2) develop a process for the selection of single point-of-entry agencies;

(3) coordinate service networks to maximize resources and minimize duplication of services through vehicles such as inter-agency agreements;

(4) make recommendations regarding the State budget for long-term care services across all State agencies; integrate federal, State, and local funding sources; and identify additional funding sources such as foundations;

(5) develop a plan to facilitate the ability of all older persons to access and pay for affordable in-home and other support services, by exploring funding possibilities that include but are not limited to spend-downs, co-payments, private long-term care insurance, and waivers of requirements under the Older Americans Act;

(6) identify barriers to the provision of alternative long-term care services by licensed long-term care facilities, including but not limited to, regulatory complexity, State requirements, and federal requirements;

(7) make recommendations for building a qualified and adequately trained work force prepared to provide long-term care services for seniors and their families;

(8) review and disseminate research on best practices and model programs and create demonstration projects to test these practices and programs in Illinois; and

(9) develop and implement programs that may include such elements as money following the person, cash and counseling, managed long-term care, and integration of acute and chronic care systems.

(d) The Council shall submit a preliminary report to the Governor and General Assembly by March 1, 2005. Thereafter, on September 1 of each year, the Council shall submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly on the progress of implementation and recommendations related to the Long-Term Care Options Program.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.