Long Term Care Reform

• About the issue
• Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
• Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
• Who can I contact with my questions?
• Background Information For This Issue

About the issue: (Top of page)

Long term care is the term used to describe services and supports given to elderly and people with disabilities. These supports can be provided in an institution or the community. Disability advocates refer to the array of services and supports provided in the community as long term care.

The long term care system in this state has included programs that are funded by federal, state, and county government. Some of the programs include the Community Options Program (COP), Community Integration Program (CIP), and Family Care. The major problem with these programs is that they are hard to understand, require multiple applications, and are administered differently throughout the state.

For the past five years Family Care has been piloted in five counties. The Governor is proposing to expand this to all counties in the next five years. If this happens all of the current programs and funding that assist people to live in the community will be folded into this program. Under Family Care, long term care services will be provided by Care Management Organizations (CMO). A CMO may be a part of a county or it could be a private organization. Most counties will combine with neighboring counties to form a regional CMO. This means that counties will no longer provide long term care services directly.

Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)

People with disabilities rely on the long term care service system to live in the community. How that new system works will have a big impact on their lives. Since the current system is going to change, people with disabilities may want to participate in planning the new system. One thing Family Care promises is that it will end waiting lists for long term care services by 2012.

People have developed relationships with their county to provide them the supports they need. They will now have to relate to a CMO for their supports. This change creates an opportunity to be more included in the decisions on how services will be provided and how much funding will be available for them. People may want more choice in who provides services and how they are provided. It is important that the new system is designed to allow for peoples choice as well as needs.

Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)

• Assembly Bill 75 - State Budget
  This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed 2009-2011 State Budget. It covers all of the state's expenese and revenues for the next two years starting 7-1-09. It affects most of the services and programs used by people with disabilities. [More on Assembly Bill 75 ]
  Outcome: This bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Doyle on June 29, 2009. It became Act 28.
• Assembly Bill 238 - Marriage Penalty
  This bill is similar to one introduced last session. It would allow a disabled person receiving MA and who marries to be treated as a single person when determining MA eligibility by disregarding the income and assets of the spouse. [More on Assembly Bill 238 ]
  Outcome: This bill had a public hearing and passed out of committee after being amended. It was referred to the Joint Finance Committee where it stayed until the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.
• Senate Bill 96 - Nursing Home Diversion
  This bill eliminates the cap on the number of persons (currently 150) who meet MA level of care requirements and are diverted from certain entry into a nursing home. It provides an enhanced rate of payment for MA services may be made under CIP II to ensu [More on Senate Bill 96 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law on May 11, 2010 by Gov. Doyle. It became Act 277.
• Senate Bill 491 - ADRCs and IRIS
  This bill requires that an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to provide information about the self-directed services option (IRIS) and expands the people to whom information must be given to include adults with developmental disabilities. [More on Senate Bill 491 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 5, 2010. It became Act 247.
• Senate Bill 494 - ADRCs and Non-Profits
  This bill would allow non-profit aging organizations to operate an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) under Family Care. [More on Senate Bill 494 ]
  Outcome: This bill passed both houses of the legislature. It was signed into law by Gov. Doyle on May 5, 2010. It became Act 249.
• Senate Bill 682 - Marriage Penalty
  This bill is similar to AB-238. It would allow a disabled person receiving MA under the purchase plan and who marries to be treated as a single person when determining eligibility for MA by disregarding the income and assets of the spouse. AB-238 applies [More on Senate Bill 682 ]
  Outcome: This bill failed to pass out of committee by the end of the session. This matter will have to be addressed by the next legislature.

Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)

John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: John1.Shaw@wisconsin.gov
Fax: (608) 267-3906

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Background Information For This Issue (Top of page)

• Information on Family Care and IRIS
• Self-Advocate’s Statement on Self-Direction