California Senate Bill SB571 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SB 571AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2015 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 amended, 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   Existing law provides  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  a  CalCareNet  Internet Web site  and create  an   a CalCareNet  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 delete the requirement that the agency take these actions with the recommendations   from the Long-Term Care Council.  The bill would require the  CalCareNet  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.   provisions, and instead require the agency, in order to develop and launch the CalCareNet Internet Web site in the   most cost-effective and efficient manner, to take specified actions, including, among others, to consider the approach and execution of existing state and regional Internet Web sites with similar objectives. The bill would require the agency to develop a system that enables counties and planning service areas to contract with the agency, for a reasonable fee, for Internet Web site development and maintenance services.  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  care  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 the Internet Web site developed pursuant to Section 9254. SEC. 3. Section 9254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 9254. (a) The  agency, with recommendations from the Long-Term Care Council,   agency  shall update the standards for  CalCareNet,   a CalCareNet Internet Web site  and create  an   a CalCareNet  Internet Web site that links to counties and planning service areas, that provides information on long-term care services that are available to 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. 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.  (b) To develop and launch the CalCareNet Internet Web site as required by subdivision (a) in the most cost-effective manner, the agency shall do all of the following:   (1) Consider the Internet Web sites produced and research conducted in all prior efforts to develop a statewide aging and people with disabilities, long-term care services and supports Internet Web site.   (2) Consider the approach and execution of existing state and regional Internet Web sites with similar objectives.   (3) Explore the benefits of combining the Internet Web site with other state services and supports Internet Web sites, including, but not limited to, those relating to veterans and mental health.   (4) Analyze the cost-benefits of the agency developing and maintaining the Internet Web site or contracting with an outside company to develop and maintain the Internet Web site.   (b)   (   c)  Information shared between, and tracked by, providers through  the  CalCareNet  Internet Web site  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.  (c)   (   d)  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. (3) California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. (4) Area agencies on aging. (5) California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. (6) Senior legal services. (7) The California Commission on Aging. (8) Caregiver resource centers. (9) Veterans' services. (10) Senior centers. (11) PACE (Program  for All Inclusive   of All-Inclusive  Care for the Elderly). (12) The Senior Care Action Network (SCAN). (13) The Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) services. (14) Ombudspersons. (15) County-level programs, including, but not limited to, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), county welfare departments, county mental health departments, county social services departments, public health departments, and adult protective services agencies. (16) City-level programs, including, but not limited to, public health, human services, and community development departments. (17) Programs for persons with disabilities, including, but not limited to, independent living centers. (18) Other social services programs, including, but not limited to, employment development programs.  (d)   (   e)  The CalCareNet Internet Web site shall satisfy all of the following requirements: (1) The Internet Web site shall provide information to consumers and caregivers about all of the following: (A) State programs for services and supports for aging and disabled adults. (B) Eligibility and enrollment options for accessing federal and state aging and long-term care programs. (C) Nongovernmental programs and resources for services and support of aging and disabled adults. (D) State, federal, and nongovernmental services and supports for caregivers. (E) Preventative care, wellness, advanced planning, and legal processes and rights. (2) The Internet Web site shall be accessible by persons with disabilities, culturally sensitive, and accessible in multiple languages. (3) The Internet Web site shall include all of the following features: (A) A modular and scalable system that easily permits transition from a pilot project to statewide implementation and integration of future modifications. (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. (C) Site standards for information accuracy and quality assurance. (D) Rational taxonomy rules, based on best practices, that allow for comprehensive and successful site searches.  (e)   (   f)  In connection with developing and expanding the CalCareNet Internet Web site, the agency shall do all of the following: (1) Secure cooperation from information providers, other system administrators, marketing partners, and service providers statewide. (2) Examine alternative funding sources and mechanisms to sustain and expand portal capacity over time. (3) Explore the feasibility of connecting the Internet Web site to the California Health Benefit Exchange.  (f)   (   g)  The agency shall link the CalCareNet Internet 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.  (h) The agency shall develop a system that enables counties and planning service areas to contract with the agency, for a reasonable fee, for Internet Web site development and maintenance services.