Bill Text: CT SB00234 | 2012 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Certain Social Services Programs.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1-1)
Status: (Passed) 2012-06-15 - Signed by the Governor [SB00234 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00234-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 234
AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall develop and administer a Community Choices program to provide a single, coordinated system of information and access for individuals seeking long-term support, including in-home, community-based and institutional services. The Community Choices program shall be the state Aging and Disability Resource Center Program in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, P. L. 109-365. Consumers served by the Community Choices program shall include, but not be limited to, those sixty years of age or older and those eighteen years of age or older with disabilities and caregivers.
(b) The Community Choices program shall, within available resources, provide (1) information, referral and assistance concerning aging and disability issues and long-term care planning; (2) comprehensive assessments to identify possible consumer needs or desires; (3) counseling for purposes of obtaining (A) employment or employment related services, (B) screening for public benefits and private resources, and (C) information on long-term care planning; (4) follow-up to ensure consumer referrals were appropriate and to offer additional assistance and individual advocacy if needed; (5) support to consumers making decisions about current and future supports and services; (6) coordination of transitions between providers or sites of care; (7) preparation and distribution of written materials regarding the availability of Community Choices program services; (8) maintenance of a toll-free telephone number; (9) assistance in improving and managing the program, monitoring quality and measuring responsiveness of systems of care; (10) assistance as necessary to conform to federal and other grant requirements; and (11) other related services.
(c) The commissioner shall establish program requirements and procedures for entering into agreements to operate the Community Choices program. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, as necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
Sec. 2. Section 17b-283 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
The Commissioner of Social Services shall, [amend the state's model 2176 Medicaid waiver to allow one hundred twenty-five disabled persons to participate under the waiver. The commissioner may, within available appropriations, amend such waiver to increase the number of persons eligible to participate under the waiver to not more than two hundred disabled persons] within available appropriations, administer a Medicaid waiver program pursuant to Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act to provide home and community-based services for persons who are institutionalized or at risk of institutionalization and who (1) are twenty-one years of age or younger; (2) have a physical disability and may also have a co-occurring developmental disability; and (3) meet the financial eligibility criteria established in the waiver.
Sec. 3. Section 7-127b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The chief elected official or the chief executive officer if by ordinance of each municipality shall appoint a municipal agent for elderly persons. Such agent shall be [a member of the municipality's commission on aging, if any,] a member of [another] an agency that serves elderly persons [, an elected official of the state or] in the municipality or a responsible resident of the municipality who has demonstrated an interest in the elderly or has been involved in programs in the field of aging.
(b) [Each] The duties of the municipal agent [shall] may include, but shall not be limited to, (1) [disseminate] disseminating information to elderly persons, [and assist] assisting such persons in learning about the community resources available to them and [publicize] publicizing such resources and benefits; (2) [assist] assisting elderly persons [in applying] to apply for federal and other benefits available to such persons; (3) [submit written reports at least annually to the chief elected official, chief executive officer, legislative body and committee or commission on aging of the municipality, if any, and to] reporting to the chief elected official or chief executive officer of the municipality and the Department of Social Services [on the services they have provided, the] any needs and problems of the elderly and any recommendations for [municipal] action [with regard to elderly persons] to improve services to the elderly.
(c) Each municipal agent shall serve for a term of two or four years, at the discretion of the appointing authority of each municipality, and may be reappointed. If more than one agent is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, the appointing authority, in [the discretion of such appointing authority] its discretion, may appoint one or more assistant agents. The town clerk in each municipality shall notify the Department of Social Services immediately of the appointment of a new municipal agent. Each municipality may provide to its municipal agent resources sufficient for such agent to perform the duties of the office.
(d) The Department of Social Services shall [be responsible for assuring that the provisions of this section are being carried out by municipalities, and shall] adopt and disseminate to municipalities guidelines as to the role and duties of municipal agents and such informational and technical materials [to] as may assist such agents in performance of their duties. [Said] The department, [shall] in cooperation with the area agencies on aging, may provide training for municipal agents [in accordance with their needs and the resources of the department and in cooperation with area agencies on aging. The department shall sponsor at least one training session in each of the planning and service areas of the Department of Social Services. Such training shall include, but not be limited to, information, from updated lists, on the availability of housing. Each municipal agent shall attend at least one such session. Said department shall assist such agents to develop and maintain simple records about the needs of elderly persons and the services provided to them, which records shall be confidential and used only to provide data that is useful to the Department of Social Services and the area agencies on aging in the preparation of the annual state and area plans] within the available resources of the department and of the agencies on aging.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 17b-137 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) (1) (A) Any person who has in his possession or control any property of any person applying for or presently or formerly receiving aid or care or child support enforcement services, as defined in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, from the state or who is indebted to such applicant or recipient or has knowledge of any insurance, including health insurance or property currently or formerly belonging to him, or information pertaining to eligibility for such aid or care or services, and any officer who has control of the books and accounts of any corporation which has possession or control of any property belonging to any person applying for or receiving such aid or care or services or who is indebted to him, or has knowledge of any insurance, including health insurance or any person having in his employ any such person, shall, upon presentation by the Commissioner of Social Services, or the Commissioner of Administrative Services, or the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, or a support enforcement officer of the Superior Court, or any person deputized by any of them, of a certificate, signed by him, stating that such applicant, recipient or employee has applied for or is receiving or has received such aid or care or services from the state, make full disclosure to [said] such commissioner, such officer or such deputy of any such property, insurance, wages, indebtedness or information. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subparagraph, any health insurer, including a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, which may or may not be financially at risk for the cost of a health care item or service, shall, upon request of the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee, provide any and all information in a manner and format prescribed by the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, to identify, determine or establish third-party coverage, including all information necessary to determine during what period a person, his or her spouse or his or her dependents may be, or may have been, covered by a health insurer and the nature of the coverage that is or was provided by the health insurer, including the name, address, [and] date of birth, Social Security number, identifying number of the plan, plan type, types of covered services, effective dates of coverage and termination date for the policy holder. Such information shall be provided by such health insurer to the Commissioner of Social Services or the commissioner's designee not later than ninety days after the commissioner or the designee's initial request, and not less frequently than monthly thereafter. Such information shall also be provided by such health insurer to all third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers, dental benefit managers or other entities with which the health insurer has an arrangement to adjudicate claims for a health care item or service.
(B) At the request of the Commissioner of Social Services, any health insurer, including a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, which may or may not be financially at risk for the cost of a health care item or service, shall be required [, to conduct, or] to allow the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, to conduct automated data matches to identify insurance coverage for recipients and the parents of recipients who are minors. [Upon completion of such matches the commissioner shall reimburse such companies for the reasonable documented costs of conducting the matches. ]
(2) (A) Such disclosure may be obtained in like manner of the property, wages or indebtedness of any person who is either: (i) Liable for the support of any such applicant or recipient, including the parents of any child receiving aid or services through the Department of Children and Families, or one adjudged or acknowledged to be the father of an illegitimate child; or (ii) the subject of an investigation in a IV-D support case, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231. Any company or officer who has control of the books and accounts of any corporation shall make full disclosure to the IV-D agency, as defined in subdivision (12) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, or to the support enforcement officer of the Superior Court of any such property, wages or indebtedness in all support cases, including IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231.
(B) The Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of Administrative Services, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a support enforcement officer of the Superior Court, or any person deputized by any of them, may compel, by subpoena, the attendance and testimony under oath of any person who refuses to disclose in accordance with the provisions of this section, or of any person who is either: (i) Liable for the support of any such applicant or recipient; or (ii) the subject of an investigation in a IV-D support case, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, who refuses to disclose his own financial circumstances, and may so compel the production of books and papers pertaining to such information.
(C) The Commissioner of Social Services may subpoena the financial records of any financial institution concerning property of any person applying for or presently or formerly receiving aid or care from the state or who is indebted to such applicant or recipient. The Commissioner of Social Services may subpoena such records of any parent or parents of any child applying for or presently or formerly receiving assistance under the aid to families with dependent children program, the temporary family assistance program or the state-administered general assistance program.
(D) The commissioner, or a support enforcement officer of the Superior Court, or the person deputized by the commissioner or officer shall set a time and place for any examination under this subdivision, and any person summoned who, without reasonable excuse, fails to appear and testify or to produce such books and papers shall be fined fifty dollars for each such offense.
Sec. 5. Section 17b-265 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) In accordance with 42 USC 1396k, the Department of Social Services shall be subrogated to any right of recovery or indemnification that an applicant or recipient of medical assistance or any legally liable relative of such applicant or recipient has against an insurer or other legally liable third party including, but not limited to, a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, for the cost of all health care items or services furnished to the applicant or recipient, including, but not limited to, hospitalization, pharmaceutical services, physician services, nursing services, behavioral health services, long-term care services and other medical services, not to exceed the amount expended by the department for such care and treatment of the applicant or recipient. In the case of such a recipient who is an enrollee in a care management organization under a Medicaid care management contract with the state or a legally liable relative of such an enrollee, the department shall be subrogated to any right of recovery or indemnification which the enrollee or legally liable relative has against such a private insurer or other third party for the medical costs incurred by the care management organization on behalf of an enrollee.
(b) An applicant or recipient or legally liable relative, by the act of the applicant's or recipient's receiving medical assistance, shall be deemed to have made a subrogation assignment and an assignment of claim for benefits to the department. The department shall inform an applicant of such assignments at the time of application. Any entitlements from a contractual agreement with an applicant or recipient, legally liable relative or a state or federal program for such medical services, not to exceed the amount expended by the department, shall be so assigned. Such entitlements shall be directly reimbursable to the department by third party payors. The Department of Social Services may assign its right to subrogation or its entitlement to benefits to a designee or a health care provider participating in the Medicaid program and providing services to an applicant or recipient, in order to assist the provider in obtaining payment for such services. In accordance with subsection (b) of section 38a-472, a provider that has received an assignment from the department shall notify the recipient's health insurer or other legally liable third party including, but not limited to, a self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care organization, health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, of the assignment upon rendition of services to the applicant or recipient. Failure to so notify the health insurer or other legally liable third party shall render the provider ineligible for payment from the department. The provider shall notify the department of any request by the applicant or recipient or legally liable relative or representative of such applicant or recipient for billing information. This subsection shall not be construed to affect the right of an applicant or recipient to maintain an independent cause of action against such third party tortfeasor.
(c) Claims for recovery or indemnification submitted by the department, or the department's designee, shall not be denied solely on the basis of the date of the submission of the claim, the type or format of the claim, the lack of prior authorization or the failure to present proper documentation at the point-of-service that is the basis of the claim, if (1) the claim is submitted by the state within the three-year period beginning on the date on which the item or service was furnished; and (2) any action by the state to enforce its rights with respect to such claim is commenced within six years of the state's submission of the claim.
(d) When a recipient of medical assistance has personal health insurance in force covering care or other benefits provided under such program, payment or part-payment of the premium for such insurance may be made when deemed appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Services. Effective January 1, 1992, the commissioner shall limit reimbursement to medical assistance providers, except those providers whose rates are established by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to chapter 368d, for coinsurance and deductible payments under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to assure that the combined Medicare and Medicaid payment to the provider shall not exceed the maximum allowable under the Medicaid program fee schedules.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of section 38a-553, no self-insured plan, group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, service benefit plan, managed care plan, or any plan offered or administered by a health care center, pharmacy benefit manager, dental benefit manager, third-party administrator or other party that is, by statute, contract or agreement, legally responsible for payment of a claim for a health care item or service, shall contain any provision that has the effect of denying or limiting enrollment benefits or excluding coverage because services are rendered to an insured or beneficiary who is eligible for or who received medical assistance under this chapter. No insurer, as defined in section 38a-497a, shall impose requirements on the state Medicaid agency, which has been assigned the rights of an individual eligible for Medicaid and covered for health benefits from an insurer, that differ from requirements applicable to an agent or assignee of another individual so covered.
(f) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not pay for any services provided under this chapter if the individual eligible for medical assistance has coverage for the services under an accident or health insurance policy.
Sec. 6. Subsection (m) of section 4a-82 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(m) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall authorize certified small and minority [business] businesses to participate in such pilot program.
Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 17a-101 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) The following persons shall be mandated reporters: Any physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 370, any resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state, whether or not so licensed, any registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, medical examiner, dentist, dental hygienist [,] or psychologist, a school employee, as defined in section 53a-65, social worker, police officer, juvenile or adult probation officer, juvenile or adult parole officer, member of the clergy, pharmacist, physical therapist, optometrist, chiropractor, podiatrist, mental health professional or physician assistant, any person who is a licensed or certified emergency medical services provider, any person who is a licensed or certified alcohol and drug counselor, any person who is a licensed marital and family therapist, any person who is a sexual assault counselor or a battered women's counselor, as defined in section 52-146k, any person who is a licensed professional counselor, any person who is a licensed foster parent, any person paid to care for a child in any public or private facility, child day care center, group day care home or family day care home licensed by the state, any employee of the Department of Children and Families, any employee of the Department of Public Health who is responsible for the licensing of child day care centers, group day care homes, family day care homes or youth camps, the Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of the Child Advocate and any family relations counselor, family relations counselor trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department.
Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 17b-90 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) No person shall, except for purposes directly connected with the administration of programs of the Department of Social Services and in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner, solicit, disclose, receive or make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or acquiesce in the use of, any list of the names of, or any information concerning, persons applying for or receiving assistance from the Department of Social Services or persons participating in a program administered by said department, directly or indirectly derived from the records, papers, files or communications of the state or its subdivisions or agencies, or acquired in the course of the performance of official duties. The Commissioner of Social Services shall disclose (1) to any authorized representative of the Labor Commissioner such information directly related to unemployment compensation, administered pursuant to chapter 567 or information necessary for implementation of sections 17b-688b, 17b-688c and 17b-688h and section 122 of public act 97-2 of the June 18 special session, (2) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services any information necessary for the implementation and operation of the basic needs supplement program or the Medicaid program for low-income adults, established pursuant to section 17b-261n, (3) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Administrative Services or the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection such information as the Commissioner of Social Services determines is directly related to and necessary for the Department of Administrative Services or the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for purposes of performing their functions of collecting social services recoveries and overpayments or amounts due as support in social services cases, investigating social services fraud or locating absent parents of public assistance recipients, (4) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Children and Families necessary information concerning a child or the immediate family of a child receiving services from the Department of Social Services, including safety net services, if the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner of Social Services has determined that imminent danger to such child's health, safety or welfare exists to target the services of the family services programs administered by the Department of Children and Families, (5) to a town official or other contractor or authorized representative of the Labor Commissioner such information concerning an applicant for or a recipient of assistance under state-administered general assistance deemed necessary by [said commissioners] the Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor Commissioner to carry out their respective responsibilities to serve such persons under the programs administered by the Labor Department that are designed to serve applicants for or recipients of state-administered general assistance, (6) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purposes of the behavioral health managed care program established by section 17a-453, (7) to any authorized representative of the Commissioner of Public Health to carry out his or her respective responsibilities under programs that regulate child day care services or youth camps, (8) to a health insurance provider, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information concerning a child and the custodial parent of such child that is necessary to enroll such child in a health insurance plan available through such provider when the noncustodial parent of such child is under court order to provide health insurance coverage but is unable to provide such information, provided the Commissioner of Social Services determines, after providing prior notice of the disclosure to such custodial parent and an opportunity for such parent to object, that such disclosure is in the best interests of the child, (9) to any authorized representative of the Department of Correction, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary to identify inmates or parolees with IV-D support cases who may benefit from Department of Correction educational, training, skill building, work or rehabilitation programming that will significantly increase an inmate's or parolee's ability to fulfill such inmate's support obligation, (10) to any authorized representative of the Judicial Branch, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information concerning noncustodial parents that is necessary to: (A) Identify noncustodial parents with IV-D support cases who may benefit from educational, training, skill building, work or rehabilitation programming that will significantly increase such parent's ability to fulfill such parent's support obligation, (B) assist in the administration of the Title IV-D child support program, or (C) assist in the identification of cases involving family violence, or (11) to any authorized representative of the State Treasurer, in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, information that is necessary to identify child support obligors who owe overdue child support prior to the Treasurer's payment of such obligors' claim for any property unclaimed or presumed abandoned under part III of chapter 32. No such representative shall disclose any information obtained pursuant to this section, except as specified in this section. Any applicant for assistance provided through said department shall be notified that, if and when such applicant receives benefits, the department will be providing law enforcement officials with the address of such applicant upon the request of any such official pursuant to section 17b-16a.
Sec. 9. Sections 17b-221a, 17b-342a and 17b-245a of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage)