Bill No.: SF0089 Drafter: JWL
LSO No.: 07LSO-0354 Effective Date:
Enrolled Act No.: SEA0089
Chapter No.: <chptnum>
Prime Sponsor: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee
Catch Title: Long term care choices.
Subject: Enacts the Wyoming Long Term Care Choices Act.
Summary/Major Elements: This act:
· Creates the Wyoming Long Term Care Choices Act, which:
o Defines "adult foster home" and "alternative eldercare home";
o Requires the Dept. of Health to contract for consultative services to counsel persons in need of or at risk of being in need of long term care regarding long term care alternatives;
o Requires consultative services be provided before admission into long term care;
o Requires an assessment by a public health nurse before admission of any person to long term care;
o Authorizes three long term care pilot project grants, with a 25% local match, for an alternative eldercare home and other alternative long term care facilities;
o Authorizes the Department of Health to license an adult foster care home pilot project, and specifies the requirements for an adult foster care home;
o Authorizes adverse licensing action or remedial action for adult foster care homes for specified grounds, which include threats to the health, safety or welfare of a resident or credible evidence of abuse, neglect or exploitation of a resident;
o Expands the number of slots in the home and community based waiver ("HCBW") program under Medicaid from 1,150 to 1,450 and authorizes an increase in provider reimbursement levels;
o Authorizes a request for federal approval of an increase in assisted living Medicaid waiver slots from 146 to 168;
o Requires Dept. of Health to seek federal approval for phase-in of a private room standard for long term care nursing home clients under Medicaid.
· Appropriates the following amounts from the general fund to the Department of Health:
o $150,000 for transition services for persons leaving nursing homes or avoiding more restrictive placements;
o $1,054,377 (plus $1,184,691 federal funds) for expansion of the long term care HCBW program;
o $556,000 (plus $568,000 federal funds) for additional costs to the Medicaid program;
o $492,800 (plus $507,200 federal funds) for increased reimbursement of long term care HCBW program providers;
o $246,400 (plus $253,600 federal funds) for expansion of assisted living waiver slots;
o $850,000 for expansion of the community based in-home program;
o $94,800 (plus $94,800 federal funds) for the long term care assessment program.
· Names the program under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act as "Medicaid" or "the Medicaid program."
Comments:
· Report required annually by October 1 from Dept. of Health to Joint Labor Committee regarding status of all adult foster care home pilot projects.
· Report required from Dept. of Health to Joint Labor Committee by November 1, 2007 regarding effect of long term care provider reimbursement increases.
· Report required from Dept. of Health to Joint Labor Committee by Nov. 1, 2008 and Nov. 1, 2009 regarding progress in expanding the number of Medicaid HCBW clients in self-directed budget plans.
· Report required from Dept. of Health to Joint Labor Committee and Advisory Council on Aging regarding why so many adult day care providers have gone out of business.
NOTE: Final action on this bill was not taken at the time this summary was prepared. Should changes be made to the bill upon final passage an updated summary will be transmitted to all legislators.