Legislative Recommendations for Long Term Care Reform
1. Direct the Health and Human Services Commission to develop a long range plan to re-balance long term care services for Texans with Disabilities. This plan should include the following components:
1. Develop a diversely represented Task Force to guide plan development.
2. Close and consolidate State Supportive Living Centers (SSLC) as the population decreases. The closure process must include the choices of those choosing to remain in these facilities and ensure those who wish to leave have every opportunity to do so.
3. Ensure supports and services for people living in the community are available, exceptional and accountable.
4. People transitioning from SSLC’s to community settings should develop a Person Directed Plan to ensure the successful transition in order to meet individual needs.
5. Money Follow the Person protocols utilized for people with disabilities exiting nursing homes and private ICF-MR facilities should be incorporated to support people exiting SSLCs.
6. Designate all funding saved through consolidation and closure of SSLCs to fund people with disabilities on Waiting Lists for community services and supports.
2. Consolidate Medicaid Waivers into a system that determines services based on needs generated through Person Centered Planning.
3. Expand Consumer Directed Services (CDS) options to all waiver services and ensure information on how to access these services is readily available and accessible.
4. Personal Care Attendants and other Direct Support Professionals must be paid a living wage of plus appropriate benefits.
Contact David Wittie at 512-512-577-8982 or Cindi Paschall at 817-281-6730 for more information
OR
Email: communitynowfreedom@gmail.com
Showing posts with label 82nd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 82nd. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Texas 82nd Legislative Session A Case for Long Term Care Reform
* Texas faces a major budget crisis during this Session. People with disabilities are facing the very real possibility that their services will decrease or be cut altogether. Those on Medicaid Waiver waiting lists have little hope of additional funds for more slots. Community services and supports are at risk as funding for State Supportive Living Centers (SSLCs) continues to grow.
* The system of long term care services is fragmented and inequitable. With 100,000 people on waiting lists and about 4400 people in SSLCs. The cost of 16,000 people who receive services in the community through Home and Community Based Services (HCS) is about as much as the 4400 people living in SSLCs.
* In a recent report updating SSLCs prepared by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, (DADS) projected taxpayer costs just to maintain SSLC facilities will reach almost 475 billion dollars over the next five years while the population at these facilities is projected to decrease to about 3500 people by 2013.
* It is critical to maintain quality, safe care for people who choose to live in SSLCs. The Department of Justice continues to find ongoing, chronic health and safety issues at all 13 facilities as a part of routine monitoring efforts. The SSLCs with the largest populations continue to show patterns that lead to abuse, neglect and poor health care.
* During the 81st Legislative Session, an unprecedented number of bills were filed calling for the development of a long term strategic plan to re-balance long term care to create equity in choice and balance to a grossly unbalanced system.
* Long term care reform is not about taking the choice and opportunity for people to live in a SSLC, it is about honoring the choice of all people with disabilities, including those who languish on waiting lists.
* Community Services for people with disabilities consistently cost less money than state institutions or SSLCs. This is evidenced by the Texas State Auditors’ Report in 2007 and the Legislative Budget Board’s report on state schools in 2007. As Texas makes difficult decisions during this fiscal crisis, it is not only important to value the choices people make about where they want to live, but to balance our limited resources.
For More Information contact: David Wittie at 512-557-8982 or Cindi Paschall: 817-281-6730
* The system of long term care services is fragmented and inequitable. With 100,000 people on waiting lists and about 4400 people in SSLCs. The cost of 16,000 people who receive services in the community through Home and Community Based Services (HCS) is about as much as the 4400 people living in SSLCs.
* In a recent report updating SSLCs prepared by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, (DADS) projected taxpayer costs just to maintain SSLC facilities will reach almost 475 billion dollars over the next five years while the population at these facilities is projected to decrease to about 3500 people by 2013.
* It is critical to maintain quality, safe care for people who choose to live in SSLCs. The Department of Justice continues to find ongoing, chronic health and safety issues at all 13 facilities as a part of routine monitoring efforts. The SSLCs with the largest populations continue to show patterns that lead to abuse, neglect and poor health care.
* During the 81st Legislative Session, an unprecedented number of bills were filed calling for the development of a long term strategic plan to re-balance long term care to create equity in choice and balance to a grossly unbalanced system.
* Long term care reform is not about taking the choice and opportunity for people to live in a SSLC, it is about honoring the choice of all people with disabilities, including those who languish on waiting lists.
* Community Services for people with disabilities consistently cost less money than state institutions or SSLCs. This is evidenced by the Texas State Auditors’ Report in 2007 and the Legislative Budget Board’s report on state schools in 2007. As Texas makes difficult decisions during this fiscal crisis, it is not only important to value the choices people make about where they want to live, but to balance our limited resources.
For More Information contact: David Wittie at 512-557-8982 or Cindi Paschall: 817-281-6730
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