AB1110: Bill Text

LRB-4521/2

DAK:lmk:jf

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 1110

March 9, 2006 - Introduced by Representatives Kaufert, Gielow, Kestell, Shilling, Krawczyk, Underheim, LeMahieu, Mursau, Honadel, Ainsworth, Owens, Jeskewitz, Hahn, McCormick, Kreuser, Vruwink, Sheridan, Seidel, Lehman, Pope-Roberts, Molepske, Musser and Van Roy, cosponsored by Senators Roessler, Darling, A. Lasee, Lassa and Wirch. Referred to Joint Committee on Finance.

AB1110,1,6 An Act to repeal 46.281 (1) (d) (intro.), 46.281 (1) (d) 1. and 46.281 (1) (e) (intro.); to renumber and amend 46.281 (1) (d) 2.; and to amend 46.27 (4) (c) 8., 46.27 (5) (am), 46.27 (6) (a) 3., 46.27 (6g) (intro.), 46.27 (9) (c), 46.281 (1) (e) 1., 46.281 (1) (e) 2., 46.282 (2) (a) (intro.), 46.283 (2) (b) (intro.), 46.285 (1) (a) and 49.45 (3) (ag) of the statutes; relating to: contracts with entities to operate resource centers and care management organizations under the Family Care Program.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) administers Family Care, a program that provides in certain areas a flexible long-term care benefit called the family care benefit. A person must be at least 18 years of age, meet functional and financial eligibility requirements, and have a physical disability, a developmental disability, or infirmities of aging to qualify for the family care benefit.

Under current law, before July 1, 2001, DHFS was required to establish in certain geographical areas pilot projects under which DHFS contracted with counties, family care districts, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands, or the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., to operate resource centers (organizations that provide information and referral services and determine financial and functional eligibility of prospective enrollees) or care management organizations (organizations that assess enrollees' service needs, develop comprehensive care plans for each enrollee, and provide or contract for provision of necessary services), or both. After June 30, 2001, if the local long-term care council for an applicable area had developed a required initial plan, and if authorized and funded by the legislature, DHFS was required to contract with one or more entities in addition to those under pilot projects, for services of a resource center or care management organization; however, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25 (the biennial budget act), any prospective additional contract with an entity to operate a resource center requires advance approval by the Joint Committee on Finance, on a passive review basis.

This bill eliminates the requirements for establishing Family Care pilot projects before July 1, 2001, and integrates requirements for those pilot projects with current requirements for contracts with resource centers and care management organizations. The bill specifies that DHFS may contract with a county, a family care district, a tribe or band, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., or two or more of these entities to administer the family care benefit as care management organizations or resource centers. Lastly, the bill authorizes DHFS to contract to administer care management organizations in geographic areas in which more than 29 percent of the population that is eligible for the family care benefit reside, if such a proposed contract receives advance approval from the Joint Committee on Finance, under a passive review process.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1110, s. 1 Section 1. 46.27 (4) (c) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,2,4 46.27 (4) (c) 8. If a pilot project contract with an entity under s. 46.281 (1) (d) (e) 1. is established in the county, a description of how the activities of the pilot project entity relate to and are coordinated with the county's proposed program.

AB1110, s. 2 Section 2. 46.27 (5) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,3,8 46.27 (5) (am) Organize assessment activities specified in sub. (6). The county department or aging unit shall utilize persons for each assessment who can determine the needs of the person being assessed and who know the availability within the county of services alternative to placement in a nursing home. If any hospital patient is referred to a nursing home for admission, these persons shall work with the hospital discharge planner in performing the activities specified in sub. (6). The county department or aging unit shall coordinate the involvement of representatives from the county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42 and 51.437, health service providers and the county commission on aging in the assessment activities specified in sub. (6), as well as the person being assessed and members of the person's family or the person's guardian. This paragraph does not apply to a county department or aging unit in a county where a pilot project in which the department has contracted with an entity under s. 46.281 (1) (d) is established (e) 1.

AB1110, s. 3 Section 3. 46.27 (6) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,3,18 46.27 (6) (a) 3. In each participating county, except in counties where a pilot project in which the department has contracted with an entity under s. 46.281 (1) (d) is established (e) 1., assessments shall be conducted for those persons and in accordance with the procedures described in the county's community options plan. The county may elect to establish assessment priorities for persons in target groups identified by the county in its plan regarding gradual implementation. If a person who is already admitted to a nursing home requests an assessment and if funds allocated for assessments under sub. (7) (am) are available, the county shall conduct the assessment.

AB1110, s. 4 Section 4. 46.27 (6g) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,3,24 46.27 (6g) Fiscal responsibility. (intro.) Except as provided in s. 51.40, and within the limitations under sub. (7) (b), the fiscal responsibility of a county for an assessment, unless the assessment is performed by an entity under a contract as specified under s. 46.281 (1) (d) (e) 1., case plan, or services provided to a person under this section is as follows:

AB1110, s. 5 Section 5. 46.27 (9) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,4,6 46.27 (9) (c) All long-term community support services provided under this pilot project in lieu of nursing home care shall be consistent with those services described in the participating county's community options plan under sub. (4) (c) 1. and provided under sub. (5) (b). Unless the department has contracted under s. 46.281 (1) (d) (e) 1. with an entity other than the county department, each county participating in the pilot project shall assess persons under sub. (6).

AB1110, s. 6 Section 6. 46.281 (1) (d) (intro.) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1110, s. 7 Section 7. 46.281 (1) (d) 1. of the statutes is repealed.

AB1110, s. 8 Section 8. 46.281 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 46.281 (1) (d) and amended to read:

AB1110,5,3 46.281 (1) (d) In geographic areas in which resides no more than 29% 29 percent of the population that is eligible for the family care benefit, contract with counties or tribes or bands under a pilot project to demonstrate the ability of counties or tribes or bands a county, a family care district, a tribe or band, the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., or with 2 or more of these entities to manage all long-term care programs and administer the family care benefit as care management organizations. If the department proposes to contract with these entities to administer care management organizations in geographic areas in which resides more than 29 percent of the population that is eligible for the family care benefit, the department shall first notify the joint committee on finance in writing of the proposed contract. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date of the department's notification that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed contract, the department may enter into the proposed contract. If within 14 days after the date of the department's notification the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed contract, the department may enter into the proposed contract only upon approval of the committee.

AB1110, s. 9 Section 9. 46.281 (1) (e) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, is repealed.

AB1110, s. 10 Section 10. 46.281 (1) (e) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, is amended to read:

AB1110,5,14 46.281 (1) (e) 1. If the local long-term care council for the applicable area has developed the initial plan under s. 46.282 (3) (a) 1., contract with entities specified under par. (d) and may, only if specifically authorized by the legislature and if the legislature appropriates necessary funding, contract as so authorized with one or more entities in addition to those specified in par. (d) certified as meeting requirements under s. 46.284 (3) for services of the entity as a care management organization.

AB1110, s. 11 Section 11. 46.281 (1) (e) 2. of the statutes, as created by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, is amended to read:

AB1110,6,4 46.281 (1) (e) 2. Contract with entities specified under par. (d) and may contract with other entities for the provision of services under s. 46.283 (3) and (4), except that after July 27, 2005, the department shall notify the joint committee on finance in writing of any proposed contract with an entity that did not have a contract to provide services under s. 46.283 (3) and (4) before July 27, 2005. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the department within 14 working days after the date of the department's notification that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed contract, the department may enter into the proposed contract. If within 14 working days after the date of the department's notification the cochairpersons of the committee notify the department that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed contract, the department may enter into the proposed contract only upon approval of the committee.

AB1110, s. 12 Section 12. 46.282 (2) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,6,9 46.282 (2) (a) Appointment by a county. (intro.) In a county that participates in a pilot project in which the department has a contract under s. 46.281 (1) (d) (e) and before a county participates in the program under ss. 46.2805 to 46.2895, the following shall be done:

AB1110, s. 13 Section 13. 46.283 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2005 Wisconsin Act 25, is amended to read:

AB1110,6,20 46.283 (2) (b) (intro.) After June 30, 2001, the department shall contract with the entities specified under s. 46.281 (1) (d) 1. and may, if the applicable review conditions under s. 48.281 (1) (e) 2. s. 46.281 (1) (e) 2. are satisfied, in addition to contracting with these entities, contract to operate a resource center with counties, family care districts, or the governing body of a tribe or band or the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., under a joint application of any of these, or with a private nonprofit organization if the department determines that the organization has no significant connection to an entity that operates a care management organization and if any of the following applies:

AB1110, s. 14 Section 14. 46.285 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,6,25 46.285 (1) (a) For a pilot project established an entity with which the department has contracted under s. 46.281 (1) (d) 2. (e) 1., provision of the services specified under s. 46.283 (3) (b), (e), (f) and (g) shall be structurally separate from the provision of services of the care management organization by January 1, 2001.

AB1110, s. 15 Section 15. 49.45 (3) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1110,7,4 49.45 (3) (ag) Reimbursement shall be made to each entity contracted with under s. 46.281 (1) (d) (e) for functional screens performed under s. 46.281 (1) (d) by the entity.

AB1110,7,5 (End)