This bill aims to reform the long-term care system by prioritizing home- and community-based care for individuals aged 65 and over, adults with disabilities, and individuals with developmental disabilities. It authorizes the executive office of health and human services to apply for necessary waivers and amendments to implement this plan. The bill also establishes a person-centered and individual choice-based long-term care system that provides specialized and tailored home-based services. It directs the executive office to adopt a tiered set of criteria for determining eligibility for services and allows for the adoption of more stringent criteria for admission to certain facilities. The bill also addresses the need for increased wages for home-care workers and establishes a payment methodology change to increase wages for direct-care workers. It requires the implementation of a long-term-care-options counseling program and ensures that individuals with long-term-care needs who remain living at home have resources to deal with housing maintenance and costs. The bill also authorizes the executive office to develop higher resource eligibility limits for individuals and requires the implementation of home- and community-based service and payment reforms.

In addition, the bill requires the executive office to submit a state plan amendment to set rates for chiropractic services. The rates would be $115 for an exam, $55 for manipulation, $35 for physiotherapy/electric muscle stimulation, and $45 for therapeutic exercises. The bill authorizes the secretary to seek any necessary Medicaid waivers or administrative actions to implement the requirements of the bill.

Statutes affected:
6332: 40-8.9-9