Bill Text: CA SB571 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Long-term care: CalCareNet.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB571 Detail]
Download: California-2015-SB571-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 571 AMENDED
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.
