Title: An act relating to establishing a task force on long-term care financing and chronic care management.

Brief Description: Establishing a joint legislative and executive task force on long-term care financing and chronic care management.

Sponsors: Senators Poulsen, Keiser, Pflug, Fraser, Shin, Haugen, Franklin, Parlette, Rasmussen, McAuliffe and Kohl-Welles; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/9/05, 2/23/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5442 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Deccio, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Brandland, Franklin, Johnson, Kastama, Kline, Parlette and Poulsen.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: People with functional disabilities who cannot complete activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, taking medications, and the use of bathroom facilities, need long-term care services. It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of the population will need long-term care services at some point in their lives. Washington State's population of adults sixty-five and older is expected to increase by 84 percent in the next fifteen years. In Washington, the majority of care giving is provided by family and friends. However, many seniors will need professional care for at least part of their day. Long-term care can be expensive. In home care services are the fastest growing area of long-term care. These services can cost in excess of $10,000 per year. Adult family homes, assisted living facilities, and other boarding homes are more costly. Individuals who need long-term care must purchase separate insurance, pay out-of-pocket, or have an income level that qualifies for Medicaid.

Summary of Substitute Bill: An eight member joint legislative and executive task force on long-term care financing and chronic care management is created. The task force includes the Secretary's of the Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services. The task force must develop recommendations about public and private mechanisms for financing long-term care, particularly in rural communities. Additionally, the task force must focus on disability prevention interventions and chronic care management that can reduce the need for long-term care. The task force must report on its progress in three phases: an initial report to be completed no later than January 1, 2006; a report of recommendations no later than January 1, 2007; and a final report no later than June 30, 2007.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill does not allow the Secretary of Health, Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, or the Administrator of the Health Care Authority to send their designee's to task force meetings.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested February 3, 2005.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.

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

Testimony For: This is a very important area of concern. With such a large portion of our population facing future long-term care needs, there is a great need to look at this problem. There is some concern that the bill does not go into as many areas as possible but it is still a very important step to take.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Christina Hulet, Governor Gregoire's Policy Office; Lauri St. Ours, Northwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging; Dennis Mahar, Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging.