Bill Text: CA AB1287 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Universal assessments: No Wrong Door system.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-12 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 825, Statutes of 2019. [AB1287 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB1287-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  August 30, 2019

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 01, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1287

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Introduced by Assembly Member Nazarian
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry)
(Coauthor: Senator Caballero)

February 21, 2019

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An act to add Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 9800) to Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1287, as amended, Nazarian. Universal assessments: No Wrong Door system.

Existing law, including, among others, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, provides various programs to assist older adults and people with disabilities. These programs include the Aging and Disability Resource Connection program established to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level.

By executive order, the Governor ordered that a master plan for aging be developed and issued to serve as a blueprint to implement strategies and partnerships that promote healthy aging and prepare the state for upcoming demographic changes.

This bill would require the California Department of Aging, in partnership with other specified departments and in consultation with stakeholders, to develop a plan and strategy for a phased statewide implementation of the No Wrong Door system, as described, on or before July 1, 2020. master plan for aging developed pursuant to that executive order to consider the efficacy of utilizing a No Wrong Door System. The bill would specify the purpose of the No Wrong Door system as assisting older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in obtaining accurate information and timely referrals to appropriate community services and supports.

The bill would also require the California Health and Human Services Agency, in consultation with other specified departments, to develop that master plan for aging to consider the efficacy of using a universal tool and process to assess that is capable of assessing individual need and determine determining initial eligibility for programs and services available in the long-term services and supports delivery network. The bill would require the agency, on or before July 1, 2021, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding development and implementation of, and a timeline for implementation of, a universal assessment tool and process.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to develop provisions, to be included in the bill, to establish the Master Plan for an Aging California that responds to population needs in a comprehensive manner. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations in support of its intent.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) The Public Policy Institute of California estimates that by the year 2030, California’s population of people over 65 years of age will nearly double, increasing by four million people, all the while becoming more racially and economically diverse.

(b) Many older adults and people with disabilities struggle to access the long-term services and supports necessary to meet individual needs and preferences. The problem is multifaceted, stemming from a number of factors, including system fragmentation at the state and local levels, lack of access to information and assistance, and an infrastructure that is unable to keep pace with population needs.

(c)At the state level, departments operate in a fragmented fashion, often with little data sharing and policy development across programs. This fragmentation impacts the ability to deliver services in a coordinated, streamlined fashion.

(d)

(c) One of the primary challenges faced by older adults, people with disabilities, and their families relates to finding and accessing services. Individuals struggle to navigate the system and do not know where to look for unbiased information and education.

(e)

(d) California’s home- and community-based long-term services and supports programs operate with separate eligibility determination and assessment processes, creating inefficiencies in the administration of programs and difficulties for people who need to access programs and services.

(f)

(e) A universal assessment process would could enable individuals to be evaluated in a consistent manner and provided with services that are tailored to meet needs and preferences in an equitable manner. At the state level, the data generated would could enable program planners to understand the needs of the population, support allocation of resources in a standardized way, and evaluate quality.

(g)As part of California’s Coordinated Care Initiative, the state directed the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Aging to consult with stakeholders in developing a universal assessment process that would facilitate coordinated access to services, enhance consumer choice, and reduce administrative inefficiencies. The Budget Act of 2016 halted implementation of various components of the Coordinated Care Initiative and abandoned its commitment to universal assessment. Without a universal assessment tool and process, California cannot achieve a truly person-centered framework for service delivery.

SEC. 2.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature to develop provisions, to be included in this act, to establish the Master Plan for an Aging California that responds to population needs in a comprehensive manner, including, but not limited to, implementing the No Wrong Door system that facilitates access to a universal assessment process and streamlined information and support.

(b)The Legislature further intends that the No Wrong Door system will support statewide seamless access to long-term services and supports, including universal assessment, while building upon the information and referral standards established through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection program, which is currently limited to eight counties.

SEC. 3.SEC. 2.

 Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 9800) is added to Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

CHAPTER  13. No Wrong Door System

9800.

(a)On or before July 1, 2020, as part of the Master Plan on Aging, the California Department of Aging, in partnership with the State Department of Rehabilitation, the Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Social Services, shall develop a plan and strategy for a phased statewide implementation of the No Wrong Door system described in Section 10202(c)(2) of Public Law 111-148. The plan shall be submitted to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature.

(b)In developing the plan and strategy, stakeholders, including, but not limited to, consumers, providers, and advocates in designing a No Wrong Door System that meets the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers, shall be consulted.

9800.

 (a) The master plan for aging established pursuant to Executive Order N-14-19 shall consider the efficacy of utilizing a No Wrong Door System.

(c)

(b) The purpose of the No Wrong Door System shall be to assist older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers obtain accurate information and timely referrals to appropriate community services and supports through all of the following: supports.

(1)A universal assessment process.

(2)Information and referral services.

(3)Counseling options concerning available long-term services and supports programs and public and private benefits programs.

(4)Short-term service coordination.

(5)Transition services from hospitals to home and from skilled nursing facilities to the community.

9805.

 (a) The California Health and Human Services Agency shall, in consultation with the California Department of Aging, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Rehabilitation, and the State Department of Health Care Services, develop master plan for aging established pursuant to Executive Order N-14-19 shall consider the efficacy of utilizing a universal tool and process to streamline access to services through a coordinated assessment process. In designing considering the tool and process, the California Health and Human Services Agency Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee shall seek input from stakeholders, including, but not limited to, consumers, providers, and advocates.

(b) The assessment tool and process shall be developed to assess should be capable of assessing individual need and determine determining initial eligibility for programs and services available in the long-term services and supports delivery network.

(c)The assessment tool and process shall not be limited in application to individuals eligible for Medi-Cal and should be a tool used to determine need and eligibility for long-term services and supports regardless of income level.

(d)(1)On or before July 1, 2021, as part of the Master Plan on Aging, the California Health and Human Services Agency shall submit a report to the Legislature regarding development and implementation of a universal assessment tool and process and a timeline for implementation of the universal assessment tool and process.

(2)(A)The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on July 1, 2025, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(B)A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.