BILL NUMBER: SB 571	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Brown)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Sections 9251 and 9254 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, relating to long-term care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 571, as introduced, Liu. Long-term care: CalCareNet.
   Existing law requires the California Health and Human Services
Agency, by January 1, 2005, and with recommendations from the
Long-Term Care Council, to set standards for CalCareNet, which is a
statewide Internet-based application, with the goal of creating an
Internet Web site that links counties and planning service areas, and
provides information on the long-term care services available to the
consumer. This bill would provide that state funds shall not be
appropriated for this purpose, and that the agency is not required to
undertake these tasks unless it receives federal or private funds.
   This bill would require the agency to update the standards for
CalCareNet and create an Internet Web site that, in addition to the
provisions above, provides information to consumers, caregivers, and
health and social service providers on how to effectively navigate
long-term care services and that assists consumers, caregivers, and
health and social service providers in making informed decisions
relating to long-term care services. The bill would require the
Internet Web site to satisfy specified requirements, including that
the Internet Web site be accessible by persons with disabilities,
culturally sensitive, and accessible in multiple languages. The bill
would require the agency, in connection with developing and expanding
the CalCareNet Internet Web site, to, among other things, examine
alternative funding sources and mechanisms to sustain and expand
portal capacity over time. The bill would delete the prohibition on
appropriating state funds for the purposes of these provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
act that CalCareNet enable and facilitate all of the following:
   (a) Individuals and families to remain independent through
consumer-directed decision-making, planning, and support.
   (b) Individuals to receive support in the least restrictive
environment.
   (c) Consumers and caregivers to connect with the appropriate
services necessary to meet individual needs.
   (d) Coordination and delivery of long-term services and supports
to be improved by leveraging resources already in place.
   (e) Long-term support services to be delivered in a more
cost-effective manner.
  SEC. 2.  Section 9251 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   9251.  For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
apply:
   (a) The term "long-term care" refers to a wide range of supportive
and health and social services for older adults and adults with
disabilities. Long-term care differs from other types of care in that
the goal of long-term care is not to cure illnesses, but to allow
individuals to attain and maintain optimal levels of functioning in
their homes or in their communities. The provision of long-term
services involves a continuum of health and social services in a
variety of home- and community-based settings.
   (b) The term "care navigation" describes any of the following
services, performed in multiple settings, including, but not limited
to, area agencies on aging, hospitals, caregiver resource centers,
independent living centers, and senior centers:
   (1) Consumer information delivered over the Internet, by
telephone, including a statewide information hotline, or in person.
   (2) Referral to programs or services delivered over the Internet,
by telephone, including a statewide information telephone hotline, or
in person.
   (3) Short-term assistance for the consumer or caregiver, provided
by persons qualified to work with the consumer to define needs, to
refer the consumer to services that are free of charge or that may be
purchased by the consumer, and to develop a plan of coordinated
care.
   (4) Recognition of the need for ongoing assistance, with the
ability to link consumers to ongoing assistance, care coordination,
services coordination, or case management.
   (c) (1) The term "care navigator" describes an individual who
provides care navigation to older persons or persons with
disabilities in need of long-term care services, or to caregivers.
Care navigators consider an individual's medical and functional
needs, financial resources, and social support, in order to partner
with the individual and, together, determine which services offered
in the community are most appropriate for the consumer. The
intervention with the consumer may be limited, depending on the
consumer's needs.
   (2) Care navigation may be performed within existing programs and
at multiple points of entry, including, but not limited to, area
agencies on aging, independent living centers, county welfare
departments, hospitals, caregiver resource centers, and senior
centers.
   (d) The term "CalCareNet" describes  a self-directed
statewide, Internet-based application using the State of California
Internet portal to link local Internet information systems. The
CalCareNet Web site is designed to help the consumer find
state-licensed providers of health services, social services, mental
health services, alcohol and other drug services, and disability
services, and also to find state-licensed care facilities. The
purpose of CalCareNet is to enable the consumer to better navigate
the long-term care system.   the Internet Web site
developed pursuant to Section 9254. 
  SEC. 3.  Section 9254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   9254.  (a)  By January 1, 2005, the   The
agency, with recommendations from the Long-Term Care Council,
shall  set   update   the 
standards for CalCareNet,  with the goal of creating
  and create  an Internet  Web  site that
links to counties and planning service areas,  and 
that provides information on long-term care services that are
available to  the consumer.   consumers, that
provides information to consumers, caregivers, and health and social
service providers on how to effectively navigate long-term care
services, and that assists consumers, caregivers, and health and
social service providers in making informed decisions relating to
long-term care services.  The agency shall recommend guidelines
for local Internet information systems, allowing for flexibility in
design and structure. The local entities with existing systems are
encouraged to maintain existing systems, assuming CalCareNet
guidelines are met.
    (b)     State funds
shall not be appropriated for purposes of this section. The agency is
not required to undertake any new task described in this section
unless it receives federal or private funds for that purpose
. 
   (c) 
    (   b)  Information shared between, and tracked
by, providers through CalCareNet may in no way violate Section
15633, pertaining to client confidentiality, or any other statute
requiring that client information be kept confidential, unless
otherwise exempted by law. 
   (d) 
    (   c)  In crafting its guidelines for the
local-level information systems, the Long-Term Care Council shall
seek input from interested stakeholders, including, but not limited
to, all of the following:
   (1) Consumers.
   (2) Consumer advocacy organizations. 
   (3) California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. 

   (3) 
    (   4)  Area agencies on aging. 
   (5) California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. 

   (4) 
    (   6)  Senior legal services. 
   (5) 
    (   7)  The California Commission on Aging.

   (6) 
    (   8)  Caregiver resource centers. 
   (7) 
    (   9)  Veterans' services. 
   (8) 
    (10)  Senior centers. 
   (9) 
    (11)  PACE (Program for All Inclusive Care for the
Elderly). 
   (10) 
    (12)  The Senior Care Action Network (SCAN). 
   (11) 
    (1   3)  The Multipurpose Senior Services
Program (MSSP) services. 
   (12) 
    (1   4)  Ombudspersons. 
   (13) 
    (1   5)  County-level programs, including, but
not limited to, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), county welfare
departments,  county mental health departments, county social
services departments,  public health departments, and adult
protective services agencies. 
   (16) City-level programs, including, but not limited to, public
health, human services, and community development departments. 

   (14) 
    (1   7)  Programs for persons with
disabilities, including, but not limited to, independent living
centers. 
   (15) 
    (1   8)  Other social  service
  services  programs, including, but not limited
to, employment development programs. 
   (d) The CalCareNet Internet Web site shall satisfy all of the
following requirements:  
   (1) The Internet Web site shall provide information to consumers
and caregivers about all of the following:  
   (A) State programs for services and supports for aging and
disabled adults.  
   (B) Eligibility and enrollment options for accessing federal and
state aging and long-term care programs.  
   (C) Nongovernmental programs and resources for services and
support of aging and disabled adults.  
   (D) State, federal, and nongovernmental services and supports for
caregivers.  
   (E) Preventative care, wellness, advanced planning, and legal
processes and rights.  
   (2) The Internet Web site shall be accessible by persons with
disabilities, culturally sensitive, and accessible in multiple
languages.  
   (3) The Internet Web site shall include all of the following
features:  
   (A) A modular and scalable system that easily permits transition
from a pilot project to statewide implementation and integration of
future modifications.  
   (B) Different site pathways and diverse visual and learning aid
tools, including, but not limited to, flowcharts, graphics, a site
map, and multimedia tutorials, that are based on the visitor type.
 
   (C) Site standards for information accuracy and quality assurance.
 
   (D) Rational taxonomy rules, based on best practices, that allow
for comprehensive and successful site searches.  
   (e) In connection with developing and expanding the CalCareNet
Internet Web site, the agency shall do all of the following: 

   (1) Secure cooperation from information providers, other system
administrators, marketing partners, and service providers statewide.
 
   (2) Examine alternative funding sources and mechanisms to sustain
and expand portal capacity over time.  
   (3) Explore the feasability of connecting the Internet Web site to
the California Health Benefit Exchange.  
   (e) By January 1, 2004, the 
    (f)     The  agency shall link the
CalCareNet  Internet  Web site to local Internet information
systems. The agency shall permit counties and planning service areas
to design local information systems, contingent upon the
availability of funding and resources for these purposes.