And DHS Schedules Town Hall Meetings on Long-term Care Cost-Savings
The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow, Feb. 23, on the bill to lift the cap on Family Care, SB 380 (and on the Assembly version of the same bill, AB 477). The hearing will be in Room 417-N and begins at 10:00 a.m. Read more about the hearing in today’s update from the Disability Advocates Awareness Network (DAWN).
After the Senate unanimously passed the bill a couple of weeks ago, advocates are very optimistic that it will be approved in the Assembly, although it’s possible that the bill might be amended.
As I have written previously, the Family Care bill does not contain an appropriation because the intent of the Dept. of Health Services (DHS) is to offset the estimated $71.9 million cost of removing the cap and expanding Family Care by adopting a number of cost-cutting changes or “efficiencies” in the state’s long-term care services. DHS has scheduled a series of town hall meetings to solicit public feedback on its plans to reform long-term care.
Three town hall meetings have been scheduled thus far: Green Bay on March 8, La Crosse on March 9, and Madison on March 12. Times for meetings in Milwaukee and Wausau are still being confirmed. Details about the times and locations can be found on the DHS website.
Individuals who are interested in speaking will have up to five minutes to share their ideas at the forums. Those who would like to share their ideas and do not wish to speak are encouraged to submit written feedback – either at a meeting or through the Department’s online survey. On that webpage you can also find background information on the proposals.
Jon Peacock
