Governor Doyle Announces Success in Helping People Move Out of Nursing Homes and Back into Community
Governor Doyle Announces Success in Helping People Move Out of Nursing Homes and Back into Community
Initiative Exceeds Projections; Saves Taxpayers $3.7 million
A new report shows that more than 1,100 seniors and people with disabilities moved out of nursing homes and residential care facilities and back into home and community-based care during the last fiscal year. The report shows the success of Governor Doyle's initiative to give people more affordable and flexible long term care options - helping them live more independently and saving taxpayers money.
"This report confirms the course we're on is the right one," Governor Doyle said. "No one should ever be forced into a nursing home if the care they need can be provided in their own community. It is saving taxpayers money, but more importantly, it's helping seniors and people with disabilities live in dignity by giving them the choice to stay in their own home."
The report shows the success of the Doyle Administration's efforts to save taxpayers money, reduce the use of nursing homes and give people more affordable long-term care:
* Community Relocation Initiative. The initiative gives elders and people with physical disabilities a choice as to where they will receive their long term care. People have the services they need brought to them, whether they live with family, in assisted living or in their own home.
Today's report shows 607 seniors and people with disabilities were able to move out of nursing homes and back into their community during the 2006 fiscal year under this initiative. This was more than 10 percent higher than was projected in the budget and will save taxpayers $3.7 million - which represents an additional $1.8 million in savings beyond what was projected.
Through the Community Relocation Initiative, Wisconsin is on target to move 1,440 people out of nursing homes and into community based settings by the end of the current two year budget cycle.
* Nursing Home Diversion Program. This initiative allows seniors and people with disabilities to immediately receive long term care services funded by Medicaid without going on a waiting list if they are at imminent risk of going into a nursing home.
According to today's report, 150 individuals who were at imminent risk of entering a nursing facility were able to remain in community-based settings through the Nursing Home Division program. These 150 slots were filled in just seven weeks.
* Diversions from State Centers and ICFs-MR. Today's report shows that 349 seniors and people with disabilities were able to move out of three state centers for the developmentally disabled and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and back into home and community based care during the last fiscal year.
* Expanding Family Care Statewide. The report also gives new momentum to Governor Doyle's effort to expand Family Care from five counties to a statewide program. The Governor signed this expansion into law last year, and his administration is now working with counties around the state to implement it. The program allows seniors and people with disabilities to receive long-term care services through Medicaid in their own community, instead of being forced into a nursing home. Without Family Care, under federal rules, normally the only type of long term care Medicaid will pay for is nursing home care - which also happens to be the most expensive.
http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=2458