REVISE ELIGIBILITY FOR HOME- & COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES
House Bill 5950
Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Van Woerkom
Committee: Health Policy
Complete to 5-9-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5950 AS INTRODUCED 4-23-02
House Bill 5950 would amend the Social Welfare Act (Public Act 280 of 1939) to add a provision directing the Department of Community Health to provide to another eligible person the remainder of the personal expenditure for a person who receives but no longer requires home- or community based services.
The Social Welfare Act requires the Department of Community Health (DCH) to provide, as part of its medical services program, home- or community-based services to eligible persons whom the DCH determines would otherwise require either nursing home services or similar institutional care services. (Home- and community-based services include all of the following: home delivered meals, chore services, homemaker services, respite care, personal care, adult day care, private duty nursing, mental health counseling, caregiver training, emergency response systems, home modification, transportation, and medical equipment and supply services.) A 1994 amendment to the act required the Department of Social Services (DSS) to make home- and community based services available to eligible applicants on a statewide basis by July 14, 1998. (A 1996 executive restructuring order transferred the relevant powers and duties of the DSS to the DCH.) The amendment also specified that the home- and community based services program may be limited in total cost and in the number of recipients per county who may receive services at one time.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.