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

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

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Appleton, Bailey and Cody; by request of Department of Social and Health Services).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/11/05, 78-16.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/28/05, 3/30/05 [DP, DNP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

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

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Deccio, Ranking Minority Member and Brandland.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Parlette.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: Area Agencies on Aging provide case management services to clients who are eligible to receive home and community services.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Social and Health Services (Department) is authorized to contract with alternative delivery systems to provide case management services to clients. In contracting for the delivery of case management services, the Department may limit the responsibility of Area Agencies on Aging to reassessing and re-authorizing services. The Department will determine the services to be included in an alternative delivery system prior to implementation, and evaluate the effectiveness and cost of the program.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This is agency request legislation. The language in this version of the bill is a compromise between the Department of Social and Health Services and the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). The AAA do not agree to the compromise language and will not support this bill if their language is not adopted. The AAA want a third party to provide an objective review of the cost savings analysis.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Penny Black, Department of Social and Health Services; Dennis Mahar, Lewis-Mason-Thurston Counties Area Agencies on Aging; Mike Manly, Snohomish County, Area Agency on Aging; Tom Fender, Washington Association Area Agencies on Aging.