Senate Bill No. 571

Introduced by Senator Liu

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Brown)

February 26, 2015

An act to amend Sections 9251 and 9254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to long-term care.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 571, as introduced, Liu. Long-term care: CalCareNet.

Existing law requires the California Health and Human Services Agency, by January 1, 2005, and with recommendations from the Long-Term Care Council, to set standards for CalCareNet, which is a statewide Internet-based application, with the goal of creating an Internet Web site that links counties and planning service areas, and provides information on the long-term care services available to the consumer. This bill would provide that state funds shall not be appropriated for this purpose, and that the agency is not required to undertake these tasks unless it receives federal or private funds.

This bill would require the agency to update the standards for CalCareNet and create an Internet Web site that, in addition to the provisions above, provides information to consumers, caregivers, and health and social service providers on how to effectively navigate long-term care services and that assists consumers, caregivers, and health and social service providers in making informed decisions relating to long-term care services. The bill would require the Internet Web site to satisfy specified requirements, including that the Internet Web site be accessible by persons with disabilities, culturally sensitive, and accessible in multiple languages. The bill would require the agency, in connection with developing and expanding the CalCareNet Internet Web site, to, among other things, examine alternative funding sources and mechanisms to sustain and expand portal capacity over time. The bill would delete the prohibition on appropriating state funds for the purposes of these provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
act that CalCareNet enable and facilitate all of the following:

(a) Individuals and families to remain independent through
consumer-directed decisionmaking, planning, and support.

(b) Individuals to receive support in the least restrictive
environment.

(c) Consumers and caregivers to connect with the appropriate
services necessary to meet individual needs.

(d) Coordination and delivery of long-term services and supports
to be improved by leveraging resources already in place.

(e) Long-term support services to be delivered in a more
cost-effective manner.

SEC. 2.  

Section 9251 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

9251.  

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
apply:

(a) The term “long-term care” refers to a wide range of
supportive and health and social services for older adults and adults
with disabilities. Long-term care differs from other types of care
in that the goal of long-term care is not to cure illnesses, but to
allow individuals to attain and maintain optimal levels of
functioning in their homes or in their communities. The provision
of long-term services involves a continuum of health and social
services in a variety of home- and community-based settings.

(b) The term “care navigation” describes any of the following
services, performed in multiple settings, including, but not limited
to, area agencies on aging, hospitals, caregiver resource centers,
independent living centers, and senior centers:

(1) Consumer information delivered over the Internet, by
telephone, including a statewide information hotline, or in person.

(2) Referral to programs or services delivered over the Internet,
by telephone, including a statewide information telephone hotline,
or in person.

(3) Short-term assistance for the consumer or caregiver, provided
by persons qualified to work with the consumer to define needs,
to refer the consumer to services that are free of charge or that may
be purchased by the consumer, and to develop a plan of coordinated
care.

(4) Recognition of the need for ongoing assistance, with the
ability to link consumers to ongoing assistance, care coordination,
services coordination, or case management.

(c) (1) The term “care navigator” describes an individual who
provides care navigation to older persons or persons with
disabilities in need of long-term care services, or to caregivers.
Care navigators consider an individual’s medical and functional
needs, financial resources, and social support, in order to partner
with the individual and, together, determine which services offered
in the community are most appropriate for the consumer. The
intervention with the consumer may be limited, depending on the
consumer’s needs.

(2) Care navigation may be performed within existing programs
and at multiple points of entry, including, but not limited to, area
agencies on aging, independent living centers, county welfare
departments, hospitals, caregiver resource centers, and senior
centers.

(d) The term “CalCareNet” describes begin delete a self-directed statewide,
Internet-based application using the State of California Internet
portal to link local Internet information systems. The CalCareNet
Web site is designed to help the consumer find state-licensed
providers of health services, social services, mental health services,
alcohol and other drug services, and disability services, and also
to find state-licensed care facilities. The purpose of CalCareNet
is to enable the consumer to better navigate the long-term care
system. end delete begin insert the Internet Web site developed pursuant to Section 9254. end insert

SEC. 3.  

Section 9254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

9254.  

(a)  begin delete By January 1, 2005, the end delete begin insert The end insert agency, with
recommendations from the Long-Term Care Council, shall begin delete set end delete
begin insert update end insert begin insert the end insert standards for CalCareNet, begin delete with the goal of creating end delete begin insert and
create end insert an Internet begin insert Web end insert site that links to counties and planning
service areas, begin delete and end delete that provides information on long-term care
services that are available to begin delete the consumer. end delete begin insert consumers, that
provides information to consumers, caregivers, and health and
social service providers on how to effectively navigate long-term
care services, and that assists consumers, caregivers, and health
and social service providers in making informed decisions relating
to long-term care services. end insert The agency shall recommend guidelines
for local Internet information systems, allowing for flexibility in
design and structure. The local entities with existing systems are
encouraged to maintain existing systems, assuming CalCareNet
guidelines are met.

begin delete

(b) State funds shall not be appropriated for purposes of this
section. The agency is not required to undertake any new task
described in this section unless it receives federal or private funds
for that purpose.

end delete begin delete

(c)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert b) end insert  Information shared between, and tracked by, providers
through CalCareNet may in no way violate Section 15633,
pertaining to client confidentiality, or any other statute requiring
that client information be kept confidential, unless otherwise
exempted by law.

begin delete

(d)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert c) end insert  In crafting its guidelines for the local-level information
systems, the Long-Term Care Council shall seek input from
interested stakeholders, including, but not limited to, all of the
following:

(1) Consumers.

(2) Consumer advocacy organizations.

begin insert

(3) California Foundation for Independent Living Centers.

end insert begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 4) end insert  Area agencies on aging.

begin insert

(5) California Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

end insert begin delete

(4)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 6) end insert  Senior legal services.

begin delete

(5)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 7) end insert  The California Commission on Aging.

begin delete

(6)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 8) end insert  Caregiver resource centers.

begin delete

(7)

end delete

begin insert ( end insert begin insert 9) end insert  Veterans’ services.

begin delete

(8)

end delete

begin insert (10) end insert  Senior centers.

begin delete

(9)

end delete

begin insert (11) end insert  PACE (Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly).

begin delete

(10)

end delete

begin insert (12) end insert  The Senior Care Action Network (SCAN).

begin delete

(11)

end delete

begin insert (1 end insert begin insert 3) end insert  The Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
services.

begin delete

(12)

end delete

begin insert (1 end insert begin insert 4) end insert  Ombudspersons.

begin delete

(13)

end delete

begin insert (1 end insert begin insert 5) end insert  County-level programs, including, but not limited to,
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), county welfare departments,
begin insert county mental health departments, county social services
departments, end insert public health departments, and adult protective
services agencies.

begin insert

(16) City-level programs, including, but not limited to, public
health, human services, and community development departments.

end insert begin delete

(14)

end delete

begin insert (1 end insert begin insert 7) end insert  Programs for persons with disabilities, including, but not
limited to, independent living centers.

begin delete

(15)

end delete

begin insert (1 end insert begin insert 8) end insert  Other social begin delete service end delete begin insert services end insert programs, including, but not
limited to, employment development programs.

begin insert

(d) The CalCareNet Internet Web site shall satisfy all of the
following requirements:

end insert begin insert

(1) The Internet Web site shall provide information to consumers
and caregivers about all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(A) State programs for services and supports for aging and
disabled adults.

end insert begin insert

(B) Eligibility and enrollment options for accessing federal and
state aging and long-term care programs.

end insert begin insert

(C) Nongovernmental programs and resources for services and
support of aging and disabled adults.

end insert begin insert

(D) State, federal, and nongovernmental services and supports
for caregivers.

end insert begin insert

(E) Preventative care, wellness, advanced planning, and legal
processes and rights.

end insert begin insert

(2) The Internet Web site shall be accessible by persons with
disabilities, culturally sensitive, and accessible in multiple
languages.

end insert begin insert

(3) The Internet Web site shall include all of the following
features:

end insert begin insert

(A) A modular and scalable system that easily permits transition
from a pilot project to statewide implementation and integration
of future modifications.

end insert begin insert

(B) Different site pathways and diverse visual and learning aid
tools, including, but not limited to, flowcharts, graphics, a site
map, and multimedia tutorials, that are based on the visitor type.

end insert begin insert

(C) Site standards for information accuracy and quality
assurance.

end insert begin insert

(D) Rational taxonomy rules, based on best practices, that allow
for comprehensive and successful site searches.

end insert begin insert

(e) In connection with developing and expanding the CalCareNet
Internet Web site, the agency shall do all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) Secure cooperation from information providers, other system
administrators, marketing partners, and service providers
statewide.

end insert begin insert

(2) Examine alternative funding sources and mechanisms to
sustain and expand portal capacity over time.

end insert begin insert

(3) Explore the feasibility of connecting the Internet Web site
to the California Health Benefit Exchange.

end insert begin delete

(e) By January 1, 2004, the

end delete

begin insert (f) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert The end insert agency shall link the CalCareNet begin insert Internet end insert Web site to
local Internet information systems. The agency shall permit
counties and planning service areas to design local information
systems, contingent upon the availability of funding and resources
for these purposes.

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CORRECTIONS:

Text--Pages 2, 4, and 6.

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