Title: An act relating to home and community services' case management responsibilities.

Brief Description: Concerning home and community services' case management responsibilities.

Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Deccio and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/21/05, 2/28/05 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kastama, Kline, Parlette and Poulsen.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Benson.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: Currently, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) contracts with area agencies on aging to provide case management services to individuals receiving Title XIX personal care services in their own home or community.

In the event that an area agency on aging is unwilling to enter into or satisfactorily fulfill a contract an individual consumer's need for case management services will be met through an alternative delivery system.

Some believe that services can be improved and costs controlled through competition in providing case management services.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is authorized to contract with alternative delivery systems to provide management services to clients. In contacting for the delivery of case management services, DSHS may limit the responsibility of area agencies on aging to reassessing and re-authorizing services.

An area agency on aging whose role is limited to reassessing and re-authorizing services must not be jointly or severally liable for the acts or omissions of any other organization with respect to the provision of services through the alternative delivery system.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Department of Social and Health Services is proceeding with Medicaid / Medicare Integration by requesting this legislation. This is a positive step in opening the market and reducing care costs.

Testimony Against: This bill does not provide the limited liability that it should. Community involvement is very important and without Area Agencies on Aging, community involvement will suffer. This bill creates yet another layer of bureaucracy.

Who Testified: PRO: Penny Black, Department of Social and Health Services.

CON: Dennis Mahar, Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Mike Manley, Snohomish County Human Services.