LA CROSSE COUNTY NOTICE OF MEETING

COMMITTEE OR BOARD:
Long Term Care Council

DATE OF MEETING: Friday, August 3, 2007

MEETING PLACE: Administrative Center, Room 3220
400 N. 4th Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

TIME OF MEETING: 10:00 AM - NOON

PURPOSE OF MEETING:

NOTICES FAXED/MAILED TO:

MEMBERS: If unable to attend, call Pete Eide at (608) 789-4800.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY: If you need accommodation to attend this meeting, please contact: Doug Mormann at (608) 785-9807 as soon as possible.
DATE NOTICE FAXED/MAILED AND POSTED:


LONG TERM CARE COUNCIL

Friday, June 1, 2007

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
ROOM 3220
400 N 4TH ST.
LA CROSSE, WI 54601

MEMBERS PRESENT: Tara Johnson, Marjorie Davison, Maybelle Haas, Steve Johnson, Tom Rand, Betty Wells, John Mroch, Don Bina, Sue Steivang, Brian Theiler, Jim Pinger

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Shirley Christensen, Mildred Evans, Ray Pavelko

MEMBERS ABSENT: Amy Atchinson, Kim Wing

OTHERS PRESENT: Peter Eide, Melissa Gilbert, Pat Killeen, Noreen Kuroski, Dean Ruppert, Pam Semb, Audra Martine, Sue Larson, Jacie Gamroth, Jordan Huff, Matt Strittmater, Peggy Herbeck,

CALL TO ORDER Steve Johnson called the meeting to order at 10:04 A.M.

INTRODUCTIONS Round table introductions were done.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM 4-13-07
MOTION by Rand/ T. Johnson to approve the minutes. Motion carried unanimously.

Board Education
Peggy Herbeck gave an overview on the Long Term Care Options Counseling & Financial Review. The Aging and Disability Resource Center completes on every client to see if they qualify. Eligibility, costs, levels of care, client cost shares were explained with a handout.

Lakeview Collaboration – Pam Semb gave an updated report on how Lakeview and La Crosse County have been working with other counties to help absorb the cost of care at Lakeview with their tax levy. It has been going quite well. Vernon and Monroe counties have signed on as partners. Jackson County Human Services Committee did not approve this plan.

CARE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION (CMO) Grievance Report
Sue Larson gave a report on the grievances and appeals for the first quarter of 2007. The CMO felt the number of grievances and appeals were low. They also saw no trends or repeating issues in the grievances. All providers receive Grievance Report information yearly with their contract.

THE FUTURE OF SENIOR CARE
Noreen Kuroski was happy to report that Senior Care remain in place until December 31, 2009, thanks to the Wisconsin delegation who attached it to the Iraq War Funding Bill. A MOTION by Rand/T. Johnson to send a thank you to our Wisconsin delegation who never gave up on Senior Care. Motion carried unanimously.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
Noreen Kuroski gave a report on the STRAP grant and explained the purpose of conducting focus groups to hear what consumers would like and also what providers see as major issues about transportation. The STRAP (Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program) grant was developed to provide more transportation in rural areas.

West Central Consortium (WCC) Legislative Update Dean Ruppert gave a report on the expansion of Family Care and the ARDC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) north (Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties) and south (La Crosse, Jackson, Monroe and Vernon counties) proposals. The current ADRC in La Crosse is highly regarded because of its past successes. In order to begin operation of the multi-county ADRCs in November, applications will need to be submitted by the end of July. This timeline may be delayed for the north group.

Meanwhile, the WCC also is preparing to respond the Department of Health and Family Services Request for Proposals for a Managed Care Organization to serve this area. The WCC expects to submit a response by mid-July and begin operation of the regional entity in January.

Melissa Gilbert gave the Legislative and State Budget Update regarding the West Central Consortium (WCC). Six of the eight counties, including La Crosse, have passed a resolution in support of Family Care expansion and regionalization. The Vernon and Clark county boards will vote this month.

The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee voted 15-1 to approve the Family Care expansion provisions in the state budget with a few changes. As proposed, the additional funding would allow for Aging and Disability Resource Centers to serve 75 percent of the state and Managed Care Organizations to serve 62 percent of the state; however, JFC restored legislative oversight of Family Care expansion, which would have been eliminated under the governor’s plan. JFC also clarified the contribution counties must make in order to participate in Family Care. Since La Crosse County already operates a Family Care program, the contribution here would continue to be 22% of the county’s Basic County Allocation (community aids) from the state. For other counties, this amount initially would be the amount those counties spent in 2006 on long-term care services for individuals who would have been eligible for Family Care. If that amount equals more than 22% of BCA, the contribution will be phased down to 22% over a five-year period. In addition, the budget language would eliminate existing long-term care councils and replace them with regional long-term care advisory committees comprised of members from each of the ADRC advisory boards. These provisions must pass both houses and then the governor.

2007 COP (Community Options Program) Expense Plans– Matt Strittmater gave a report and asked for approval on their expense plans because this Long Term Care Council Committee has the oversight of COP (Community Options Program). The committee wanted more detailed financial data for the next meeting before decisions were made.

POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS
- Keith Butler on Disaster planning for Vulnerable Populations
- 2007 COP (Community Options Program) Expense Plans Data
- Transportation (rural)
- Senior Care letter to Wisconsin delegation
- CMO Report 2007 1st quarter by Pat Killeen

ADJOURNMENT
A MOTION to adjourn the meeting Motion carried unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.

Next meeting August 3, 2007, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next Committee meeting.

Pete Eide, Recorder

County of La Crosse, Wisconsin
400 4th Street North • La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601-3200
(608) 785-9640 • FAX: (608) 789-4887
www.co.la-crosse.wi.us

June 8, 2007

Department of Health and Family Services
Secretary Kevin R. Hayden
1 West Wilson Street
Post Office Box 7850
Madison, WI 53707-7850

Dear Secretary Kevin R. Hayden,

The Long Term Care Council (LTCC) of La Crosse County at its June 1, 2007 meeting unanimously supported the following recommendations to you.

• As the expansion of Family Care unfolds throughout the state the LTCC fully recognizes and applauds the hard work of Human Services staff in the development of the Family Care Program in La Crosse County.
• La Crosse’s Family Care Program is now the model for expansion by the eight county West Central Consortium (WCC). Again, Human Services staff are taking leadership positions for the development of a new Long Term Care District utilizing and sharing many of the policies, processes and service components they have diligently put in place over the years.
• For their past and current efforts, the LTCC of La Crosse County thanks the staff that implemented Family Care and those working towards the expansion through the West Central Consortium for their leadership and extra efforts.
• Further opportunities for additional funding should be explored and pursued with the state by La Crosse County in recognition of uncompensated work and program development being built off La Crosse’s Family Care Program for the new Long Term Care District.

The twenty consumer and provider members of the LTCC of La Crosse County respectfully submit the above recommendations for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Steve Johnson,
Chairperson Long Term Care Council

County of La Crosse, Wisconsin
400 4th Street North • La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601-3200
(608) 785-9640 • FAX: (608) 789-4887
www.co.la-crosse.wi.us

June 11, 2007

Senator Herb Kohl
425 State St. Room 202
La Crosse, WI 54601

Dear Senator Kohl:
The Long Term Care Council, of the La Crosse County Board, are sending this letter with sincere thanks for the dedication, foresight, and good judgment shown by the Wisconsin Delegation in extending SeniorCare in Wisconsin through December 31, 2009. We know we are preaching to the choir when we cite the good service SeniorCare has provided to the older citizens in La Crosse County. SeniorCare is not only cost effective for seniors and taxpayers but also provides better coverage and no doughnut hole. Thanks for never giving up, not only from our committee, but also from the older people across Wisconsin who will benefit from SeniorCare for two more years. Maybe by then we can convince Washington to extend Senior Care indefinitely so Wisconsin can continue to serve older people better and more cost effectively than with Medicare Part D.

Our sincere gratitude goes to you Senator Kohl, and to the rest of the Wisconsin Delegation.

Sincerely,

Steve Johnson,
Chairperson Long Term Care Council