It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 40 of the General Laws entitled "Human Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
{ADD CHAPTER 20
LONG TERM CARE SYSTEM PLANNING ADD}
{ADD 40-20-1. Long term care plan and budget. -- ADD} {ADD The directors of the department of human services, the department of elderly affairs, the department of health, and the department of mental health, retardation, and hospitals shall develop a five year Rhode Island long term care plan and recommended budget prior to January 1, 1998. In developing the plan, the directors shall seek input and comment from members of the public, consumers and providers. The plan shall be based on the goals and objectives set forth in the Long Term Care Coordinating Council's "Long Term Care Plan for Rhode Island: 1995-2000" and shall incorporate at least the following:
(a) Guiding principles
(1) Address and promote physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being.
(2) Allow consumers to choose less restrictive and more cost effective and appropriate settings for care.
(3) Place emphasis on consumer choice and satisfaction.
(4) Strive to insure that all services are available as appropriate to needs and resources.
(5) Base the plan on consumer needs, not provider needs.
(6) Recognize that cost effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of life are important to public and private pay consumers.
(b) Essential elements
(1) A long term care coordinator responsible for assisting persons to access long term care services shall be available to all communities.
(2) A uniform screening and assessment shall be conducted for anyone seeking state funded long term care assistance. The assessment shall be available to private pay consumers as well.
(3) A consumer long term care information system shall be developed in collaboration with the Long Term Care Coordinating Council. ADD}
{ADD 40-20-2. Long term care entry system. -- ADD} {ADD The directors of the department of human services, the department of elderly affairs, the department of health, and the department of mental health, retardation, and hospitals, shall work collaboratively to design a standardized, community-based, comprehensive system for entry into state long term care programs and services. The system shall include community-based staff to administer assessments, make recommendations for services, and assist with access to services. ADD}
SECTION 2. Within forty-five (45) days of passage of this act, the Long Term Care Coordinating Council shall hold a public hearing to receive input and comment from the public, consumers and providers regarding the design of the long term care entry system. Following the public hearing, a public comment period of thirty (30) days will commence for persons to submit additional written comment. Within thirty (30) days following the end of the public comment period, the chairperson of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council shall provide to the directors of the departments of human services, elderly affairs, health and mental health, retardation, and hospitals, a compilation of the public comment received, and said comment shall be reviewed and considered by the directors in designing the long term care entry system. The directors shall complete the design and implementation plan for the long term care entry system by January 1, 1998 and submit to the governor a recommended budget to implement the plan for fiscal year 1999.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
