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Community Choices: Connecticut’s Aging & Disability Resource Centers

ADRC Update for Long Term Care Planning Committee

March 13th, 2012

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Aging and Disability Resource Centers in Connecticut

AoA/CMS Vision:To have Aging and Disability Resource

Centers in every community serving as highly visible and trusted places where people of all incomes and ages can turn for information on the full range of long term support options and a single point of entry for access to public long term support programs and benefits.

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What is the ADRC? Nationally - an “ADRC” is an Aging and Disability

Resource Center. In Connecticut the acronym is already used for

“Alcohol and Drug Recovery Centers.”

Therefore, to the public we refer to ourselves as “Community Choices.”

Community Choices

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Locations & Service Areas South Central:

Center for Disability Rights & Agency on Aging of South Central CT

Western: Independence Northwest & Western CT Area Agency on Aging

North Central: Independence Unlimited, North Central Area Agency on Aging & CCCI.

**Southwestern: (“ADRN” Opened October 20th, 2011)Southwestern CT Area Agency on Aging & Disability Resource Center of Fairfield County.

**Eastern: (“ADRN” invitation extended Jan. 6th, 2012)Disability Network of Eastern CT, Senior Resources, & CCCI

**Currently no federal funding available

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Who Community Choices Can Support

Older Adults Persons aged 18 & over living with Disabilities Caregivers Those who want help in communicating their

needs Those who want to plan for future long term care

needs Those who want help navigating a complex

system of federal, state & local programs

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How Community Choices Can Support….

Community Choices offers: Options Counseling, Short Term Care Management, Care Transitions, Application Assistance, Decision Support, Follow-Up, Long Term Care Planning, Benefits Screening, Information & Assistance, and Case Consultation.

Community Choices can connect consumers to the following types of services: Adult Day Care, Disability Services, Elder Abuse Prevention, Employment Assistance, Financial Assistance, Housing Assistance, Equipment Assistance, In-home Services, Legal Services, Transportation, Nutrition, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services.

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Community ChoicesCommunity Choices Service Categories: Information & Referral Options Counseling: 3 types: Long Term Support,

Employment, Benefits Assistance:

Application, “Urgent & Emergent Situation Response,” Planning for Future Needs, and Decision Support.

Follow-Up Advocacy (for individuals) Short-term Case Management or “Short Term

Support” (Long Term Support being piloted) Care Transitions Case Consultation

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Our job is to give people the tools they need to choose the right path for themselves.

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Oversight StructureStatewide ADRC Committee:

ADRC Operating Protocol Workgroup ADRC Planning Workgroup ADRC Training Workgroup ADRC Private Pay Workgroup ADRC Marketing Materials Workgroup ADRC Data & Outcomes Workgroup

North Central ADRC Workgroup North Central Community Choices Council

Western ADRC Workgroup Western Community Choices Council

South Central ADRC Workgroup South Central Community Choices Council

Evaluation: UConn Center on Aging – historical ADRC partner since 2007

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Brief History of ADRCs in Connecticut

The Aging Services Division Hosted Connecticut's First ADRC Planning Meeting in June 2007 and invited all parties with a possible interest to the planning event.             

Greg Case, from the Administration on Aging and Carrie Blakeway of the Lewin Group presented on ADRC models, their variations, successful partnerships and lessons learned from around the country.  

By the conclusion of the meeting a wide array of topics were covered as they pertain to the inception of ADRCs in Connecticut.

Next, The Aging Services Division applied for and was selected to receive funding from the Administration on Aging for the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization grant. 

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Multiple Funding Streams 2009 ADRC Grant

9/30/09-9/29/12 $683,910 Medicaid Infrastructure Grant

MOA w/ BRS 1/1/10-12/31/11 = $281,454 Affordable Care Act Funding:

ADRC Options Counseling Grant 9/30/10-9/29/12 = $500,000

ADRC Evidence-based Care Transition Grant 9/30/10-9/29/12 = $400,000

MIPPA II Grant 9/30/10-9/29/12 = $228,862 (ADRC only portion)

ADRC Nursing Home Transition & Diversion Grant 9/30/10-9/29/12 = $448,500. MFP controls & operates.

Substantial additional In-kind contributions and leveraging of other funding sources

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ADRC Options Counseling Grant Part of a National effort to define “Options

Counseling” and what it entails Staff training focusing on: person-centered

planning, motivational interviewing, active listening, cultural sensitivity and long term planning

Development of Long Term Support Options Consumer Guide, brochure, & long term care planning tools

New consumer satisfaction survey just for consumers who receive Options Counseling

Development of Cost Savings / Value of Benefit Calculator

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ADRC Care Transition Efforts Tasked with implementing a care transition model with the ADRC for

the purpose of reducing unnecessary hospital readmissions.

Tammy & Joyce - Care Transition Coaches

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MIPPA IIActivities include:-Outreach, Education & Application

Assistance for:Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)Medicare Savings ProgramConnPACE (prior to program changes)Medicare Preventive Benefits changes

resulting from Affordable Care ActPartners: NAMI-CT, INW, CDR, AASCC,

SWCAA, WCAAA, Senior Resources

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ADRC Nursing Home Transition & Diversion Grant

Grant funding = for the purpose of having the Money Follows the Person Program become well-connected to ADRCs for the implementation of the Minimum Data Set 3.0 Section Q changes set to begin 10/1/10.

Connecticut’s MFP program applied for and oversees this grant.

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In-kind Funding Streams / Additional Leveraging of Funds

CMS - SHIP AoA – Title IIIB – I&R, Title V - Older Workers Rehab Act Title VII Parts B & C, Ticket to Work Agency Partners – fund raising / in-kind, community

grants New – ADRC Sustainability Initiative Pilot:

Sliding Fee Scale – cost sharing Educational Offerings Membership Appeal Potential for seeking funding from the private sector including

hospital partners, insurance companies

**Items listed represent only a small sample of leveraging

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Community Choices 5 Year Plan & Budget

Highlights: Statewide ADRCs that are “fully functional” In 5 years have care transitions activities statewide in

28 Hospitals including 55 Care Transition Coaches One .5 FTE responsible for outreach & marketing One 1.0 FTE responsible for training 10 Community Choices Counselors statewide Technology, training, admin. support staff, marketing

material needs Year-by-year layout of new partners & mutual

activities**All items are based on available funding

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Future Connections with Medicaid

Medicaid Elder Waiver & CHCP Other Medicaid Waivers: DDS, DMHAS “Duals” (Medicare/Medicaid Eligible) Grant Money Follows the Person Medical Care Homes BIPP – Balancing Incentives Payment Program Funding for providing Medicaid presentations /

application assistance

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Future Connections with Other State Agencies / Partners

One measure of ADRC success = # of formal connections to other State Agencies & partners.

Community Choices can only provide “seamless” service delivery if they are well connected.

Actively working on expanding formal connections. Ex. VDHCBS, CTCDD, Connect-Ability, CDSMP, hospitals, 2-1-1 and more

Availability of resources complicates this effort.

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How Does Community Choices Help Consumers with

Long Term Care Needs? Long Term Support Options Counseling Encourage Planning for Future Needs Coaching consumers on managing chronic conditions so

they can age in place Screen people for available federal, state and local

benefits, provide application assistance, follow-up, and advocacy

Helps people navigate a complex system of services & supports

Staff utilize & provide updates to, and directs independent consumers to state’s Long Term Care Supports & Services website

Assists with overall rebalancing efforts

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How Does Community Choices Help the State of Connecticut?

“No-Wrong-Door” / Single Entry Point model ensures consumer access to needed social service programs and supports.

Working across “specialty” (aging, disability, employment, Medicaid, agency) ensures consumers do not “fall through the cracks” resulting in stronger public image for state.

Applications & Redeterminations submitted to DSS by ADRC staff are completed fully & accurately = time savings for DSS staff and the consumer.

Presentations & Outreach on multiple federal and state social services and programs.

Potential long-term cost savings to federal, state, and local government with investment in ADRCs.

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Considerations for the Long Term Care Planning Committee

General Rebalancing & Community Choices: ADRCs support efforts to rebalance the long-

term care system in CT, shifting expenditures toward community care, with savings to the state

Please continue supporting ADRCs and the established infrastructure to assist CT residents with: Care Transitions (across settings: community,

hospital, SNF, etc.) Assessments & Long Term Care Options Counseling Long Term Care Planning & Decision Support Benefits Screening & Case Consultations

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Questions:To contact Community Choices – dial: 1-800-994-9422

Website: www.ct.gov/communitychoicesResource Database: www.ct.gov/longtermcare

Margaret Gerundo-Murkette, MSWSocial Service Program Manager – Aging Services Division

Connecticut Department of Social Services25 Sigourney St. Hartford, CT 06106

(860)424-5322Margaret.Gerundo-Murkette@ct.gov

Jennifer Throwe, MSW, CIRS-AStatewide ADRC Coordinator

(860)424-5862Jennifer.Throwe@ct.gov