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1999/2000 Long-Term Care Initiatives
The state budget adopted by the General Assembly on Wednesday,
June 30, contains the following items for long term care and the elderly:
SAFETY INITIATIVES
Adult Protective Services
$1,000,000 FY 1999-2000 $2,000,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Provides additional funds to support additional social
worker positions that would provide adults protective services through
local departments of social services.
Complaint Investigation
$111,375 FY 1999-2000 $222,750 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Provides funding for 15 nurse consultants to improve the
timeliness of complaint investigations in long term care facilities.
Effective January 1, 2000.
ACH Resident Assessment Services
$302,866 FY 1999-2000 $609,953 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Provides funding for professional mental health assessments
and follow-up treatment services for resident in adult care homes
who have been identified as posing a risk to other residents during
the initial assessment. Effective: January 1, 2000.
ACH Resident Assessment Services
$631,200 FY 1999-2000 $1,271,200 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Provides funding to establish adult care home positions
in the Department of Health and Human Services and in county departments
of social services.
HEALTH CARE
Physician Rates
$3,600,000 FY 1999-2000 $3,800,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Increases physician rates to match Medicare rates.
Prescription Drug Program for the Elderly
$500,000 FY 1999-2000 $500,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Provides start-up money to establish a program to assist
elderly persons with the purchase of outpatient prescription drugs.
Senior Health Insurance Information Program
$104,000 FY 1999-2000 $104,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Appropriates funds to allow the Program to expand education
and counseling services to North Carolina Medicare beneficiaries
regarding Medicare+Choice.
OTHER ITEMS
Special Assistance Personal Needs Allowance
$750,000 FY 1999-2000 $750,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Increases the monthly personal needs allowance for State/County
Special Assistance recipients from $31 to $36.
Start-up Grants for Adult Day Care Programs
$250,000 FY 1999-2000 (Non-recurring)
PURPOSE: Provides funding for up to 10 start-up grants for new
Adult Day Care Programs.
Housing Trust Fund
$3,000,000 FY 1999-2000 $3,000,000 FY 2000-2001
$6,000,000 (non-recurring)
PURPOSE: Provides funds to support the Housing Trust Fund. Of this
amount, $500,000 annually, and an additional $2,000,000 for the
1999-2000 fiscal year, is earmarked for affordable housing for the
elderly.
Alzheimer's Association
$50,000 FY 1999-2000 $50,000 FY 2000-2001
PURPOSE: Increases funding for the three chapters of the North
Carolina Alzheimer's Association.
Human Services grants-in-aid
$4,000,000 (non-recurring)
PURPOSE: Reserve for grants-in-aid to public and non-profit humans
services organizations for programs that provide services to older
adults, adults with disabilities, at-risk children and youth and
families.
SUMMARY OF SELECTED SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Adult Care Home Resident Assessment Services
The funds appropriated for the adult care home positions
in the Department of Health and Human Services and in county departments
of social services will be used for personnel trained in the medical
and social needs of older adults. The purpose of these positions
will be to evaluate individuals requesting State/County Special
Assistance to pay for care in adult care homes. The special provision
outlines the many functions of these personnel such as: 1. develop
and collect data on the appropriate level of care and placement
in the long-term care system, 2. identify individuals who pose a
risk to other residents and who may need further mental health assessment
and treatment, 3. provide technical assistance to adult care homes
on how to conduct functional assessments and develop care plans,
and 4. assist in monitoring the Special Assistance Demonstration
Project.
Long-Term Care Continuum of Care
The provision directs the Department of Health and Human Services
to work with appropriate state and local agencies and representatives
of consumer and provider organizations to develop a system that
provides a continuum of long-term care for elderly and disabled
individuals and their families.
Prescription Drug Assistance Program
The Department of Health and Human Services is directed
to use the $500,000 to provide outpatient prescription drugs for
persons over the age of 65 and not eligible for full Medicaid benefits,
whose income is not more than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of
the federal poverty level, and who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular
disease or diabetes. The purpose of the program is to serve low-income
elderly and disabled persons who are not eligible for Medicaid and
who need prescription drugs to treat a condition that, if left untreated,
could result in the person's admission to a nursing facility or
otherwise qualifying for Medicaid. The provision outlines steps
to be taken in developing the proposal for establishing the program,
and contains a reporting requirement.
Plan for Accreditation of Adult Care Homes and Assisted
Living Facilities
The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to study and
develop a plan and criteria for accreditation of adult care homes
and assisted living facilities. The plan would provide for enhanced
payments to adult care homes and assisted living facilities that
meet accreditation criteria.
Special Assistance Demonstration Project
The Department of Health and Human Services would be allowed to use
funds from the existing state/County Special Assistance for Adults
budget to provide special assistance payments to eligible individuals
in in-home living arrangements. Payments may be made for up to a
two-year period, and four hundred (400) individuals would be able
to participate in the demonstration project. The provisions outlines
a reporting process and information to be included in the report
and officials to whom it is to be submitted.
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