QUALITY COMMUNITY CARE COUNCIL ACT

House Bill 6195 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Bert Johnson

Committee:  Regulatory Reform

Complete to 6-2-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6195 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE 5-269-10

The bill would create the Michigan Quality Community Care Council Act, which would codify into law the Michigan Quality Community Care Council, which currently exists as a pilot project within the Department of Community Health

In 2004, the Michigan Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Tri-County Aging Consortium entered into an agreement under the Urban Cooperation Act to create the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (QCCC).   An independent governmental agency, the QCCC, among other things, maintains a statewide registry of Medicaid Home Help Providers.  The Medicaid Home Help Program enables individuals to remain in their homes with the assistance of qualified direct care workers rather than being placed in a nursing home, home for the aged, or adult foster care home.

Briefly stated, the bill would do the following:

·                    Create in statute the Michigan Quality Community Care Council Act.

·                    Establish the Michigan Quality Community Care Council as a public body, prescribe the Council’s duties, and give the Council rule making authority.  The primary duties would be to promote and coordinate effective and efficient personal assistance services, creation and maintenance of a provider registry, and establishment of wages and other benefits for the home help providers (subject to legislative authorization and department implementation).

·                    Transfer to the Council all employees of the predecessor body necessary for the operation of the Council, and provide for the protection of their status, salary, and benefits.

·                    Create in statute a 13-member board of directors, which, among other things, would adopt an operating budget and establish general policy guidelines.  The board would have to hire a chief executive officer; the CEO would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council.

·                    Require the Council to comply with anti-discrimination laws regarding employees and providing services to clients.

·                    Require the Council, DCH, and any other necessary state departments or agencies to seek any federal approvals needed for implementation of the bill.

·                    Require the Council to submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature.

·                    Require all powers granted by the bill’s provisions to be broadly interpreted to effectuate the intent and purposes of the bill.

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

POSITIONS:

The Department of Community Health indicated support for the bill.  (5-26-10)

A representative of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition testified in support of the bill.  (5-19-10)

A representative of AARP testified in support of the bill.  (5-19-10)

A representative of The ARC Michigan testified in support of the bill.  (5-19-10)

A representative of the Michigan Quality Community Care Council testified in support of the bill.  (5-19-10)

A representative of the Area Agencies on Aging testified in support of the bill.  (5-26-10)

The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute indicated support for the bill.  (5-26-10)

The Michigan Community Action Agency Association indicated support for the bill.  (5-26-10)

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, indicated support for the bill.  (5-19-10)

In addition, the following organizations or associations indicated support for the bill on 5-26-10 as signatories on a letter supporting the bill:

Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman

Disability Network of Michigan

Olmstead Coalition

ADAPT Michigan and ADAPT Lansing

Center for Civil Justice

Michigan Campaign for Quality Care

Disability Network of Genessee County

A representative of the National Private Duty Association Michigan Chapter testified in opposition to the bill.  (5-26-10)

A representative of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) testified in opposition to the bill.  (5-26-10)

A representative of the Americans for Prosperity of Michigan testified in opposition to the bill.  (5-26-10)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Steve Stauff

■ 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.