Requires the commissioner of health to create a list of long-term care contact information for the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program

1 Co-sponsor

• Mark Grisanti

BILL NUMBER:S2157

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of health to create a list of long-term care contact information for the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would require the commis- sioner of health to compile a list of contact information for the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program, local area agencies on aging, local departments of social services, and local departments of health and would require health care providers and practitioners to provide a patient who may be in need of long term care with such infor- mation based on the patient's county of residence.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 adds a new section, 2997-e, to the public health law, which would require the commissioner of health to create a list of contact information for the NY Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program, local area agencies on aging, local departments of social services, and local departments of health to be organized by county, provided that for New York city, such contact information for local agencies may be the government information and non-emergency services citizen service center. This section also requires the commissioner to update the list periodically and to provide such list to health care providers and prac- titioners. Whenever a health care provider or practitioner recommends long term care for a patient, such provider or practitioner must provide the contact information to the patient based on the patient's county of residence or prospective county of residence.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

Justification

Implemented in 2009, the NY Connects program provides locally accessible, consumer centered access points to seniors seeking information about long term care options. Seniors are provided with linkages to services and are able to make informed decisions about their long term care needs, as well as streamline access to long term care services and supports. NY Connects is part of the national movement to redesign long term care, which has proven to provide excellent outcomes in a cost effective manner. NY Connects enhances the delivery of quality medical and non-medical long-term care services through a single coordi- nated system of long-term care information and assistance that minimizes confusion, supports informed decision-making and enhances consumer choice. This program ultimately improves the quality of life for seniors who take advantage of the program by offering early intervention and prevention and promoting the most integrated long term care setting, based on the unique needs of the consumer. NY Connects also helps seniors identify suitable levels of care and types of services to prevent or delay the need for costly institutional care.

By requiring the commissioner to create a list of contact information for the NY Connects program and other resources relating to long-term care and subsequently requiring health care providers and practitioners to give patients in need of long term care services with this informa- tion, this bill encourages the use of such programs and subsequently assists seniors in acquiring long term care in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Prior legislative history

S.4796C of 2011-12

Fiscal implications

None. Such contact information is readily avail- able and the bill allows the commissioner and providers/practitioners to disseminate such information in any form.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.