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Dillon’s bill would help Hoosiers on
Medicaid make long-term care decisions
Senate votes yes to provide senior citizens with long-term care counseling
(STATEHOUSE) – State Sen. Gary Dillon (R-Columbia City) said families who face important decisions about the long-term care of their loved ones on Medicaid should have counseling and information available to them.
Dillon’s Senate Bill 315 would require counseling for individuals on Medicaid looking at long-term care options after June 30, 2008. The bill was presented to the full Senate and passed on second reading today. Dillon said sometimes a person who enters into a nursing home facility determines later they do not need 24-7 care.
“This is a niche that needs to be filled and seniors deserve information on what’s available to make informed decisions based on their individual needs,” Dillon said.
Dillon’s bill would require the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning to screen people who are aging and on Medicaid in order to refer them to a nursing home or to assisted living care for those who not require 24-hour help.
Provisions of Dillon’s bill include:
- Creating a screening and counseling program for individuals seeking long-term care services. A screening team will assess a person’s medical needs, availability of services in their area, and cost effectiveness of care outside of a nursing home; and
- Implementing a process of approval for individuals who want to be admitted to a nursing home facility.
“This bill could ease the burden faced by families who have to make a decision to put a loved one in a nursing home facility,” Dillon said.
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Sen. Dillon represents Senate District 17, which includes, Allen, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, Wabash and Whitley counties.
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