1 Resource Center Design Options Susan C. Reinhard, R.N., Ph.D. Co -Director Rutgers Center for State Health Policy

2 Resource Center Design Options Design Options –operational configuration may vary Services Resource Centers Must Provide

3 Design Options 1. Single location in a community - one or multiple organizations housed together –IN - AAAs serve older adults and people with physical disabilities (statute) –NJ - AAAs (county choice) –WI - county agencies but different

4 Design Options 2. Multiple locations in a community - one organization managing multiple sites for all the same populations –OR - 4 offices in Portland metro area –Regional “management entity” with contracts with more local entities

5 Design Options 3. Different organizations managing separate sites with coordinated services –“no wrong door” technology intensive approach –Texas - “System navigators” –but must assure uniform information, assistance and access

6 Design Options 4. Multiple locations in a community- one organization managing multiple sites focused on distinct populations – WA State agency operates separate SEPs at the local level

7 Design Options 5. Different organizations managing separate sites focused on distinct populations with coordinated services –MN - AAAs, CILs, County Departments

8 Resource Centers Must Provide Whatever design is chosen, the Resource Centers must provide: Public Education and Outreach –ensuring all potential users of long term support (and their families) are aware of both public and private long term support options, as well as awareness of the existence of Resource Center services

9 Resource Centers Must Provide Information on Long-term Support Options (Options Counseling) –Providing comprehensive, objective, up-to- date, citizen-friendly information covering the full range of available immediate and long-range options

10 Resource Centers Must Provide Long-term Support Options Counseling –Helping individuals understand available community support options, assess their needs and resources and assisting them in developing and implementing their long-term support choices

11 Resource Centers Must Provide Benefits Counseling –Helping people learn about and, if desired, apply for public and private benefits including private insurance (such as Medigap), SSI, Food Stamps, Medicare, Medicaid and private pension benefits

12 Resource Centers Must Provide Employment Options Counseling –Helping people understand their options for employment and the impact on other benefit programs; coordinating with other state and local employment counseling entities is expected

13 Resource Centers Must Provide Counseling and Referral to help People Remain in the Community –Providing comprehensive and accurate information on services and programs that help people remain at home and in the community such as direct services, generic community resources and public or private insurance

14 Resource Centers Must Provide Crisis Intervention –Responding to situations of immediate jeopardy to the health or welfare of an individual in a timely manner with appropriate means

15 Resource Centers Must Provide Planning for Future Needs Health Promotion

16 Resource Centers Must Provide Eligibility Screening –Helping all individuals who may be eligible for publicly funded programs with a non-binding inquiry into their income and assets to determine probable eligibility for programs, services and benefits, including Medicaid

17 Resource Centers Must Provide Private Pay Services

18 Resource Centers Must Provide Comprehensive Assessment

19 Resource Centers Must Provide Programmatic (Functional) Eligibility Determination –Determining non-financial eligibility to publicly supported benefits or services; may require a functional assessment of an individual’s health and environment, including a “level of care” assessment for Medicaid services –At least 16 States determine functional for older adults and at least one other population

20 Resource Centers Must Provide Medicaid Financial Eligibility –Ensuring that an individual can receive a determination of Medicaid financial eligibility through integrated or coordinated access with that resource; must be seamless to the applicant –AZ, CT, GA, MI, MN,OR, SD,WA determine financial and functional eligibility for older adults and at least one other population

21 Resource Centers Must Provide One-Stop Access to Public Programs –Ensuring that individuals have the information they need about available immediate and long-term public and private supports so they can make informed decisions and understand the Center is the comprehensive point of entry for publicly supported long term services

22 Contact Information Susan Reinhard Center for State Health Policy (CSHP) Rutgers, The State University of NJ 317 George Street, Suite 400 New Brunswick, NJ , ext. 230 (v) (fax)