Aging Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-896
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES.
Vote Date: 3/11/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 2/23/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Aging Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
Demand for long-term care is expected to increase over the next twenty years. There is a
need to identify what the needs will be and the potential future expenditures. The bill directs
the Dept. of Social Services to conduct a study of the state's long-term care needs and to
report to the committees having cognizance on matters relating to aging and human services
no later than July 1, 2022.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Dept. of Social Services: The Dept. offered testimony on this bill but wished to note to the
Committee that there are two major strategic planning tools that already fulfill the aims of this
proposal. The Governor's Strategic Plan to Rebalance Long-Term Services and Supports
with the latest version of this report released on January 2020 and the Connecticut Long-
Term Care Planning Committee which prepares a long-term care plan every three years with
the most recent released in January 2019 called "Balancing the System: Working Toward
Real Choice for Long-Term Services and Supports in Connecticut.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Mag Morelli, President, LeadingAge Connecticut: There testimony did not offer any
opposition to this proposal and offered to assist the Committee and the state with the studies,
but they point out that they did participate in the process of developing the 2019 State Long-
Term Services and Supports Plan. They also mention that there is a recently updated report
on Connecticut's Medicaid Long-Term Care Need Protections as well as the Strategic
Rebalancing Plan.
Anna Doroghazi, AARP Connecticut: They offered testimony with comments on the bill and
suggest that this bill is not necessary at this time. It is also pointed out that HB 6457 and SB
896 are also similar in nature. In July 2019 Mercer released a report that it conducted entitled
"State of Connecticut Medicaid Long Term Care Demand Projections" which show that
demand for long-term care will grow in the next 20 years but that demand for nursing facilities
will decline as demand for home and community-based services continues to increase.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
No testimony was offered in opposition.
Reported by: Richard Ferrari, Assistant Clerk Date: 3/23/2021
Richard ONeil, Assistant Clerk
Joe Perkus, Clerk
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