CDCAN REPORT #198-2011: Department of Health Care Services public stakeholder meeting via Internet on Adult Day Health Care

ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER MEETING BY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES SET FOR DECEMBER 12TH

"Webinar" Meeting Will Be Held Via The Internet Regarding Details of Adult Day Health Care Lawsuit Settlement Agreement and Implementation of Replacement "Community-Based Adult Services" Program

SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 12/08/2011 02:20 PM] - The Department of Health Care Services - the state agency that oversees California's Medicaid program (called "Medi-Cal") will conduct a public stakeholder meeting - via the internet - on December 12th, Monday morning from 09:30 to 10:30 AM, regarding details of the settlement agreement of the Adult Day Health Care lawsuit and implementation of the new Community-Based Adult Services program that will replace it.  About 35,000 people with disabilities and seniors are in Adult Day Health Care program provided by over 300 community-based organizations, with about 7,000 workers.

Department officials said that the purpose of the stakeholder meeting - called a "webinar" - is outline the major provisions of the settlement that resolved a lawsuit filed by recipients of Adult Day Health Care, that sought to block the elimination of the program as Medi-Cal optional benefit until the State could demonstrate an appropriate transition plan and replacement services that would protect the rights and health and safety of people in the program.  The webinar will also provide information about the implementation of the new program - called "Community-Based Adult Services' that will replace Adult Day Health Care as a Medi-Cal benefit.

Under the settlement, the Medi-Cal Adult Day Health Care benefit will be eliminated effective February 29, 2012 and the new Community-Base Adult Services program, which Department officials say will provide necessary medical and social services to those with the greatest need, will begin on March 1, 2012.   The Department estimates that about half of the current Adult Day Health Care recipients - or roughly 15,000 or so people - will be eligible for the new program.  The remaining numbers of recipients would - according to the Settlement agreement - but transitioned to other "appropriate" Medi-Cal services.

Some number of the 300 or so community-based providers remain open and some number of their workers will remain employed, though it is not clear yet what providers will be forced to close their doors or lay-off workers with the projected reduced numbers of recipients in the new program in March.  In addition, the reimbursement rate for providers in the new program will be a factor even for those providers who are able to still open, since that rate will not be the same as what they receive now as Adult Day Health Care center providers.

The Governor proposed last January and the Legislature approved in March, as part of the 2011-2012 State Budget, the elimination of Adult Day Health Care as a Medi-Cal benefit, originally effective earlier this year - but delayed until December 1 and then pushed back until February 29, 2012 due to the lawsuit.

WEBINAR PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION

STAKEHOLDER MEETING DATE:  Monday, December 12, 2011
TIME:  09:30 AM  – 10:30 AM
HOW TO ACCESS WEBINAR:  Space is limited, so please reserve your webinar seat now at:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/361438384

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE:

• People with disabilities and seniors and their families currently in the existing Adult Day Health Care program as a Medi-Cal benefit and those people in a Adult Day Health Care program referred there outside the Medi-Cal program (such as regional centers)
• Adult Day Health Care center program providers, support staff and other workers
• Regional Centers and other locally based agencies that deal with people with disabilities including independent living centers
• Area Agencies on Aging and local government agencies dealing with seniors
• In-Home Supportive Services workers, public authorities

COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
PC-based attendees: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees:  Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Additional information and updates can be found at:

Department of Health Care Services  “Community-Based Adult Services/Adult Day Health Care” website at:  http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/ADHC/ADHC.aspx

and

California Department of Aging “Adult Day Health Care” website at:  http://www.aging.ca.gov/programs/adhc/default