Relating to options for long-term care, and making appropriations

This bill relates to options for long-term living and funding of long-term care services. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to establish a rate structure for reimbursement of the transportation costs of home health care providers by incorporating an increased reimbursement amount for travel time into the per visit reimbursement. The department shall submit a report of the rate structure and the projected cost of application of the reimbursement rate structure to the governor and the general assembly by December 1, 2024. 1 (intent for Iowa’s long-term living system), including maximizing independence, choice, and dignity for consumers, the director of HHS shall convene a study group that includes members specified in the bill to perform a focused review of the alternatives for long-term living options in the state. The review shall include a survey of existing approaches utilized in other states and innovative approaches such as the greenhouse system, adult family homes, and elder group homes, with the goal of providing Iowans with access to an extensive range of high-quality, affordable, and cost-effective long-term living options. The review shall also consider how the state may assist nursing facilities not at full occupancy by incorporating other sectors, including child care, adult day care, and home health care. The study group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2024. The bill provides that for FY 2024-2025, Medicaid reimbursement rates for adult day care providers who provide services to Medicaid home and community-based services waiver recipients shall be increased by percent over the rates in effect on June 30, 2024. The bill makes an appropriation to HHS for FY 2024-2025 from the general fund of the state to be used in collaboration with affected stakeholders to continue to expand the Iowa return to community program. The bill requires HHS to submit to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2024, an estimate of the cost to fully fund an expansion of the Iowa return to community program to provide access to all interested consumers.62 (Alzheimer’s disease services and assistance); to coordinate dementia service specialists in each area agency on aging; to provide grants to each area agency on aging to employ a dementia service specialist to increase access and connections to local supports and services for persons living with dementia, their families, and caregivers; to evaluate the availability of respite for family caregivers of persons with dementia and make recommendations to meet the demand; and to increase awareness about dementia within the network of area agency on aging providers as well as in communities, businesses, health care facilities, and assisted living programs throughout the state.