BILL NUMBER:S2157

TITLE  OF  BILL:   An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
requiring the commissioner of health to create a list of long-term  care
contact  information  for  the  NY  Connects: Choices for Long Term Care
program

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  This bill would  require  the  commis-
sioner  of  health  to  compile a list of contact information for the NY
Connects: Choices for Long Term Care program,  local  area  agencies  on
aging,  local  departments  of social services, and local departments of
health and would require health  care  providers  and  practitioners  to
provide  a patient who may be in need of long term care with such infor-
mation based on the patient's county of residence.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section, 2997-e, to the public  health  law,  which
would  require  the  commissioner  of health to create a list of contact
information for the NY Connects: Choices for  Long  Term  Care  program,
local  area agencies on aging, local departments of social services, and
local departments of health to be organized by county, provided that for
New York city, such contact information for local agencies  may  be  the
government   information  and  non-emergency  services  citizen  service
center. This section also requires the commissioner to update  the  list
periodically and to provide such list to health care providers and prac-
              

titioners.  Whenever  a  health care provider or practitioner recommends
long term care for a patient, such provider or practitioner must provide
the contact information to the patient based on the patient's county  of
residence or prospective county of residence.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:    Implemented  in 2009, the NY Connects program provides
locally accessible, consumer centered access points to  seniors  seeking
information  about  long  term  care  options. Seniors are provided with
linkages to services and are able to make informed decisions about their
long term care needs, as well as streamline access  to  long  term  care
services  and  supports. NY Connects is part of the national movement to
redesign long term care, which has proven to provide excellent  outcomes
in a cost effective manner. NY Connects enhances the delivery of quality
medical and non-medical long-term care services through a single coordi-
nated system of long-term care information and assistance that minimizes
confusion,  supports  informed  decision-making  and  enhances  consumer
choice. This program ultimately improves the quality of life for seniors
who take advantage of the program by  offering  early  intervention  and
prevention  and  promoting  the  most integrated long term care setting,
based on the unique needs  of  the  consumer.  NY  Connects  also  helps
seniors  identify  suitable  levels  of  care  and  types of services to
prevent or delay the need for costly institutional care.

By requiring the commissioner to create a list  of  contact  information
for  the  NY  Connects program and other resources relating to long-term
care and subsequently requiring health care providers and  practitioners
to  give  patients in need of long term care services with this informa-
tion,  this  bill  encourages  the use of such programs and subsequently
assists seniors in acquiring long term care in  an  efficient  and  cost
effective manner.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S.4796C of 2011-12

FISCAL  IMPLICATIONS:   None. Such contact information is readily avail-
able and the bill allows the commissioner and providers/practitioners to
disseminate such information in any form.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth  day  after
it shall have become a law.