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LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Assisted Living Legislation
Title of Bill: HB
420 (introduced February 24, 2003)
Introduced by: Representative Watson
Current Location: Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee (as of June 30,
2003)
Summary: Provides for the
licensure and regulation of adult living residences; conferring powers and
duties on the Department of Public Welfare; adding members to the
Intra-Governmental Council on Long-Term Care; providing for an increase to
State supplemental assistance for persons in personal care homes; and
providing for penalties.
Website:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BH/2003/0/HB0420.HTM
Title of Bill: SB
136 (introduced February 3, 2003)
Introduced by: Senator Mowery
Current Location: Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee (amended May
18, 2004, under consideration)
Summary:
Provides for the licensure of Assisted Living Residences (ALRs); establishes
licensing standards to assure quality. It provides protections, and
enforcement of those protections for residents and residences. Individuals
who qualify for nursing home services can receive those services in assisted
living residences. They can receive Medicaid funded waiver services when it
is determined a cost effective alternative to a nursing home.
Requires that each
resident have a level of care screening, an assessment of needs and a
service plan regarding how the needs will be met. Creates specific
admission, transfer and discharge requirements and provides protections for
residents and residences by requiring standardized disclosure statements,
well defined by resident rights, and contract requirements to insure
well-informed decisions by all parties. Residents cannot be required to
receive services not needed and may bring supplemental services to allow
aging in place.
Establishes age,
educational and training requirements and competency testing for
administrators and direct care staff of living units within ALRs. Creates
additional requirements for ALRs that wish to be specially designated as
being capable of meeting the needs of cognitively impaired individuals. The
bill provides for specific inspection and complaint investigation procedures
designed to provide consistent and uniform enforcement of this act.
Website:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BH/2003/0/SB0136.HTM
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PCH Regulations
Pennsylvania is in the
process of rewriting the current personal care home (PCH) regulations. As
currently written, assisted living does not exist in PA. However the term
is often used as a marketing ploy with those PCHs calling themselves
assisted living residences (ALR) being licensed and subject to the same
regulations.
Upon public review of
the proposed regulations, the Personal Care Home Advisory Council broke down
the proposed regulations by subject matter for further review and comment.
These workgroups were assigned Medications, Staffing, Assessment and Support
Plan, Resident Rights, Small vs. Large Homes and an Administrator Training
Task Force.
The PCH Advisory
Council recently sent forth to DPW recommended changes to the proposed
regulations. We are currently awaiting the final form regulations, expected
some time before November 2004.
Information regarding
PCH
To check the status of any bill in Pennsylvania, click here.
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Federal Issues
Federal News
Here you will find National Board Statements, Congressional Testimony on
Behalf of the Alzheimer's Association, Comments to Federal Agencies and
Congress, and Additional Information
Alzheimer's Association National Program 2004 (“From Helpless
to Hopeful”) SEE “General Resources”
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Additional Priorities
Research
The Alzheimer's Association is the largest private contributor to
Alzheimer's disease research. Since 1982, the Alzheimer's Association has
granted more than $150 million in research grants.
Medicare
Medicare covers more than 35 million Americans age 65 and older
and 6 million younger adults with permanent disabilities.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the single largest private payer for long term care services in
the United States. It is the only significant source of financial assistance
for long term care for people with Alzheimer's disease.
Long Term Care
With fourteen million people expected to develop Alzheimer's disease by the
middle of the 21st century, the demand for long term care will explode.
Family Support
Families are the backbone of the long term care system, providing 70 percent
of Alzheimer care. When families provide care at home, the cost of paid
assistance is $19,000 annually compared with nearly $64,000 in a facility.
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