| Senator Rob Kane (R-32) recently helped
secure Senate passage of legislation to expand the number
of persons who can benefit under a five-year federal demonstration
program designed to move eligible nursing home residents
to less restrictive community-based settings.
The legislation, SB 561, An Act Concerning The Money
Follows The Person Project, is now subject to further
action by the House of Representatives.
“I am a proud co-sponsor of this kind of quality
of life legislation, and even more proud of the citizens
who have worked so hard for this including Joe Stango
of Southbury and Bob Veillette, the former managing
editor of the Waterbury Republican-American. If this
bill becomes law and is implemented, the many people
who will benefit will owe a debt of gratitude to the
advocacy of these persistent, compelling, individuals,”
said Senator Kane.
The legislation calls for increasing from 700 to 5,000
the number of persons who can be served under the state’s
plan for participating in the federal Money Follows
The Person (MFP) Demonstration program. This demonstration
program permits states to move eligible residents of
nursing homes and other institutional settings into
less restrictive, community based settings. State demonstration
programs approved by the federal government are eligible
for enhanced federal funding for the first year of Medicaid-eligible
services, along with federal funds for services not
allowed by Medicaid that are provided by the state during
the demonstration period.
Furthermore, the legislation calls for the state Department
of Social Services to develop a plan to establish and
administer a demonstration project to provide community
based long-term care services for income-eligible adults
who are institutionalized, or at risk of institutionalization,
but who do not meet the requirements of the MFP demonstration
project. Also, the legislation establishes a Long-Term
Care Reinvestment account.
“The people who have worked so hard for this
legislation, Joe Stango and Bob Veillette, were inspired
by love and the bone-deep desire to live their lives
with their families by their sides. Mr. Stango was inspired
by the desire to care for his mother at home instead
of institutionalizing her. Mr. Veillette’s family
is similarly inspired by their love for him. They believe,
as do I, that government should be responsive to the
needs of those who do not want to live in institutions,
and who do not have to if government is flexible in
how it funds necessary long-term care services and programs.
Passing this legislation is a step in the right direction,”
said Senator Kane.
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