HB 3716

Abstract

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a New Directions for Nursing Home Resident Care Task Force to develop a 5-year plan to deinstitutionalize individuals who require long-term care consistent with the federal requirements of community integration. Provides that the Task Force shall create a plan so that every nursing-home eligible individual who can be cared for in the community at the same or lesser cost than the individual's care in a nursing home has programs available to allow them to choose such community care. Provides that the Task Force shall also identify the costs and service needs related to expanding the Task Force's plan to include that part of the nursing facility population that would be more expensive to house in the community. Provides for membership, compensation, and administrative support of the Task Force. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall constitute the Task Force no later than 3 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that within 6 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Task Force shall create a proposal for providing housing assistance payments to individuals receiving benefits under Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act who are facing placement in a facility or are unable to leave such a facility unless the individuals' have access to such a housing subsidy.