Long-Term Care Bill Clears State Senate

Legislation that would give elderly and disabled Tennesseans more long term care options was unanimously approved by the full Senate this week. The bill, SB 4181, simplifies access to home and community-based services. Proponents say it will increase the number of people able to stay at home for long-term care needs through the state’s TennCare program. Presently, 98 percent of long-term care funding is spent on institutional care, with limited utilization of lower cost home and community-based options.

Senator Mae Beavers, a co-sponsor of the measure, says it sets the guiding principles of what a long term care system in Tennessee should look like. She says the centerpiece of this change is that an individual can enter the system in the least restrictive setting and receive services to make it a seamless system.

Currently, the state’s long term care system provides funds for only a small amount of home- and community-based services and nursing home care. The legislation will allow for many other options including adult day care and assisted care living.

The comprehensive bill, called the Long-Term Care Community Choices Act of 2008, includes provisions that would create a single point of entry for people who are not on TennCare to get access to long-term health care services through Medicaid or other programs. It also sets up a system where consumers can hire health care providers and broadens residential health care choices to include companion care and family care homes. It also creates an oversight committee the review the program in its first years of operation.