AN ACT CONCERNING A SINGLE-POINT-OF-ENTRY FOR LONG-TERM CARE.

This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner to establish a statewide single-point-of-entry system to provide information, referral, and screening for individuals seeking long-term care. It also requires related changes to the state's long-term care website.

Finally, by January 1, 2010, the bill requires the DSS commissioner to collaborate with the commissioners of children and families, mental health and addiction services, public health, and developmental services to develop and implement a single, simplified application for residents to apply for programs and services administered by these departments.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009 except for the provision regarding a single application for certain state agency programs and services which takes effect upon passage.

Under the bill, DSS must consult with the Long-Term Care Advisory Council and the public to designate geographical service areas in which to establish single-point-of-entry agencies. DSS must select entities to service as single-point-of-entry agencies through a request for proposals process. The goal of the single-point-of-entry system is to allow an individual to obtain standardized information on long-term care services from each single-point-of-entry agency and to promote consumer choice of long-term care options.

By January 1, 2010, the bill requires DSS to incorporate use of the 2-1-1 telephone information system to serve as an access point to the single-point-of-entry system.

1. work collaboratively with other such agencies;

2. provide information to all individuals on available long-term care options and services, including community and home-based care and nursing home care;

3. provide a comprehensive, uniform screening process to assess an individual's eligibility for long-term care services and programs, including Medicaid and other public programs and services offered by private and nonprofit organizations;

4. help individuals obtain a timely eligibility determination for public long-term care services and programs from DSS;

5. help individuals develop individualized long-term care support plans; and

6. implement quality assurance standards and procedures.

The bill also requires the DSS commissioner to implement a quality assurance program to measure agency performance. It authorizes him to establish additional agency requirements, criteria, and standards and to terminate a single-point-of-entry agency that fails to meet its requirements.

The bill requires the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), in collaboration with others, to maintain the state's long-term care website, which it developed in 2006. Current law requires OPM to develop the website. It also requires the website to include information on the single-point-of-entry system, in addition to information on long-term care options, resources, and referrals.

The bill adds single-point-of-entry system personnel to the group charged with developing and maintaining the website. The other entities are the Aging Committee, Commission on Aging, CHOICES personnel designated by DSS, and the Long-Term Care Advisory Council. The bill also removes the requirement that OPM develop and maintain the website only within existing resources.

In 2007, Connecticut received a $ 500,000 grant from the federal Administration on Aging's Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant program. It authorizes DSS's Aging Services Division, in partnership with the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut and community providers, to operate a “Choices at Home” project in South Central Connecticut. The goal of the project is to help individuals who are at high risk of nursing home placement but not yet eligible for Medicaid to remain in their own homes.

The 18-month project has several initiatives including the development and implementation of a pilot single-point-of-entry system in the South Central region of Connecticut. This system began operating in October, 2008.

The first Nursing Home Diversion Modernization Grant ended on March 31, 2009. The state received a second 18-month grant for $ 649,398 in October, 2008. Part of these funds will be used to implement a second pilot single-point-of-entry system in the Western region of the state in May 2009.

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2009)