The bill, identified as Substitute Senate Bill No. 244 with File No. 116, mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a family caregiver support benefit through a Medicaid demonstration waiver. This benefit would provide respite services to state residents who are currently ineligible for such services under Medicaid. The study is to consider Oregon's existing programs under a similar waiver, explore other ways to expand eligibility for respite services to those not covered by Medicaid, and identify potential state-funded long-term care services that could help finance the family caregiver support benefit. The Commissioner is required to report the findings to the General Assembly's committees on aging and human services by January 1, 2025.

The fiscal impact statement attached to the bill indicates that there will be no state or municipal financial impact as the Department of Social Services (DSS) already possesses the necessary expertise to conduct the study as required by the bill. The bill is effective upon passage and introduces a new section to the statutes. The Aging Committee has given a Joint Favorable Substitute recommendation for the bill with a unanimous vote of 15 to 0 on March 12, 2024.

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