Long Term
Care Reform
People with disabilities rely on long term care services and supports to enable their participation in the community.
- 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 1 - Lawsuit Reform
This is a companion bill to Special Session Senate Bill 1. These bills curb and reform lawsuits. Among other reforms, families of individuals injured in nursing homes, group homes or other facilities would not be able to use investigative or incident repo [More on Assembly Bill 1 ]
Outcome: Passed Committee - Assembly Bill 40 - Biennial Budget Request
The most important bill of the legislative session, the biennial budget bill determines how much funding programs serving people with disabilities will receive for the next two years. The bill also makes important policies and funding decisions in other a [More on Assembly Bill 40 ]
Outcome: Introduced and referred to the Joint Finance Committee. - Senate Bill 27 - Biennial Budget Request
The most important bill of the legislative session, the biennial budget bill determines how much funding programs serving people with disabilities will receive for the next two years. The bill also makes important policies and funding decisions in other a [More on Senate Bill 27 ]
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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