H 4178 Session 111 (1995-1996)
H 4178 Joint Resolution, By J.S. Shissias, Carnell, C.D. Chamblee, P.B. Harris,
D.E. McTeer and D. Smith
Similar(S 801)
A Joint Resolution directing the Governor to appoint a task force to develop a
plan to restructure and consolidate state level programs which plan, fund,
regulate, and deliver long-term care services for the elderly; and to develop
a plan which addresses local level coordination of these services.
05/03/95 House Introduced and read first time
05/03/95 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-53
A JOINT RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE
TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE AND
CONSOLIDATE STATE LEVEL PROGRAMS WHICH PLAN,
FUND, REGULATE, AND DELIVER LONG-TERM CARE
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY; AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN
WHICH ADDRESSES LOCAL LEVEL COORDINATION OF
THESE SERVICES.
Whereas, in March 1993, the Legislative Audit Council
recommended that the Joint Legislative Health Care Planning and
Oversight Committee study ways of better integrating long-term
care services in the State; and
Whereas, the Long Term Care Reform Subcommittee of the Joint
Legislative Health Care Planning and Oversight Committee
sponsored hearings and focus groups to solicit information from
providers and consumers of long-term care services, family
caregivers, and state agencies which plan, fund, regulate, and
deliver long-term care services, and found that consumers and their
families:
(1) do not know where to go for information or services
because South Carolina's system for planning, funding, regulating,
and delivering long-term care services is badly fragmented;
(2) need social as well as health services;
(3) would like to choose among a variety of home and
community services to support independent living and family
caregivers as well as innovative and traditional residential and
institutional services;
(4) need confidence in their long-term care provider, so creative
methods must be developed to assure high quality home and
community services without increasing costs or otherwise restricting
access; and
Whereas, after reviewing efforts in other states to reform their
long-term care systems, the subcommittee focused on the concept of
consolidating state level responsibilities and resources while
emphasizing a single entity for coordinating services at the local
level; and
Whereas, the subcommittee invited all interested persons and
organizations to comment on this concept and found:
(1) support for better coordination and restructuring of planning,
funding, regulation, and delivery of long-term care services
including the development of a comprehensive system with a single
point of entry;
(2) a need for state leadership of a comprehensive system with
flexibility to adapt to local needs and resources;
(3) merging responsibilities and resources makes sense only if it
produces a more cost effective long-term care system, one with
more money for services and less money for bureaucracy;
(4) efforts to design and implement a comprehensive system
should include as full participants: providers and consumers of
long-term care services, family caregivers, and the appropriate state
agencies;
(5) advocates for persons with physical or developmental
disabilities are concerned about including these groups in a
long-term care system also intended to serve aging persons; and
Whereas, based on the work of the subcommittee, the General
Assembly finds that it is in the best interest of consumers of
long-term care services, their families, and their formal and
informal caregivers to consolidate state level responsibilities and
resources for long-term care for the elderly while emphasizing a
single entity for coordinating services at the local level. Now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) The Governor shall appoint a task force
composed of representatives of the appropriate state agencies, local
health and social service agencies, area agencies on aging, and
appropriate consumer and advocacy groups and provider
representatives for the purposes specified in this resolution. The
Chairmen of the Joint Legislative Health Planning and Oversight
Committee and the Committee to Study Services, Program, and
Facilities for Aging each shall appoint two members of their
respective committees to serve on the task force ex officio. Staff
support for the task force must be provided by the Joint Legislative
Health Planning and Oversight Committee, with the assistance of
the state agencies and legislative committees represented on the task
force.
(B) The task force must develop a plan to restructure and
consolidate state level programs which plan, fund, regulate, and
deliver long-term care services for the elderly. The plan must:
(1) examine all aging and long-term care planning, financing,
regulatory, and service programs administered by the Department of
Health and Human Services, Department of Social Services,
Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and
Environmental Control, and the Office of the Governor, Division on
Aging;
(2) optimize the benefits of developing a common system to
serve all elderly persons in need of long-term care while
accommodating the different needs which they might have; and
(3) reduce spending for administration and bureaucracy and
recommend services to which the savings should be reallocated.
(C) After submission of the plan developed pursuant to
subsection (B), the task force must develop a plan which addresses
coordination of long-term care services for the elderly at the local
level. The plan must:
(1) examine the major aging and long-term care planning,
financing, regulatory, information and referral, and service
programs for the elderly administered by local public and private
agencies including for profit providers;
(2) emphasize a single entity for coordinating services for the
elderly including a single point of entry and common application
for most, if not all, long-term care services;
(3) establish clearly those functions which are appropriately
handled at the state level and those which are best left to local
officials.
(D) The task force must be appointed by July 1, 1995. It must
submit the plan required in subsection (B) to the Governor and
General Assembly by January 1, 1996. It must submit the plan
required in subsection (C) to the Governor and General Assembly
by January 1, 1997, and upon submission of this plan, the task
force is abolished.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by
the Governor.
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