SERVICES TO OLDER AND DISABLED ADULTS COMMITTEE

SERVICES TO OLDER AND DISABLED ADULTS COMMITTEE

JANUARY 8, 2003

 

 

I.                     Consumer Directed Care Presentation – Susan Harmuth

 

This is a result of the Homestead Act to address the Funded Workforce component and the shortage of direct care workers.  North Carolina ranks in the top ten among states in need of long term care workers in the future (31,000 needed by 2008).  North Carolina will address this need through public education and a recruitment campaign.  Issues to address are who provides the care, where is it provided, how is it provided, and flexibility in providing it.

A workgroup of 40 individuals representing many groups is currently meeting to help shape the program.  Most states, which have consumer directed care, are using a model from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.  Once the program is shaped by the workgroup, there will be a pilot.  No rules will be adopted until after the pilot.  The workgroup is building upon the experiences of other states.  Consumer directed care cannot cost more than traditional aide services.  For updated information, we can go to the Division of Aging website. Go to the topic index and click on long term care workforce.

    

II.                   HIPAA Rules and Adult Services – Jim Bookout

 

HIPAA was original developed to reform the Health Care Industry but now the rules are being applied across the board.  Each entity must see if the law fits and, if not, have legal reasons why it does not.  State Government will not be assisting counties with determining if HIPAA applies because compliance must be determined by individual entities.  The original plan was to provide information and forms to the counties but this has not happened due to budget cuts.  DHHS probably will not be in compliance by the April deadline.  From response to surveys, it appears that 2/3rds of County Departments of Social Services will fall under HIPAA.  Suzanne Merrill stated that her office is working with the Attorney General’s Office for direction in the area of APS.  There will be a letter coming to the counties addressing HIPAA and APS.  A discussion was held regarding electronic bill for guardianship and whether this would fall under HIPAA.  The Controllers Office has stated that generally the 1571 is outside of the HIPAA billing system.

 

III.                 Adult Services Update – Suzanne Merrill

 

APS Taskforce Update:  A needs assessment was done last spring in 31 counties.  The Taskforce met in November for the first time and brainstormed and will be meeting again next week.  It will be setting goals and identifying areas which need to be addressed.  The goal is to meet for 3-4 months, then organize regional groups to look at what changes need to be made.  They will identify short and long-range strategies.

 

IV.                 Topics for next month

 

Suggestion for Dennis Streets from Division of Aging to talk about Long Term Care.  It was shared that he gave a presentation at the December meeting.