10/6/98, Governor Names Family Care Demonstration Counties
CONTACT:
David Blaska (608) 266-6925
Mary Rowin (608) 261-8885
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(MADISON, October 6, 1998) - Gov. Tommy G. Thompson announced today
that five Wisconsin counties have been selected as care management
organization demonstration sites as part of "Family Care," the
state’s redesign of long-term health care.Fond du Lac, La Crosse,
Milwaukee, Portage, and Richland counties will pioneer the care management
organization concept, which is the centerpiece of the new care system for
adults with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities and frail
elders.
"These five counties represent the diverse make-up of our
state," Gov. Thompson said. "I’m delighted that they are
willing to spearhead this effort towards a redesigned long term care
system in Wisconsin, and I’m confident they will do an outstanding
job."Gov. Thompson unveiled the Family Care proposal in his January
1998 State of the State Address.
"Family Care will create a flexible new long term care system in
Wisconsin," Gov. Thompson said. "The current long term care
system is intimidating, complex and often inefficient. There are 40 ways
to access the system, people don't know how to get the appropriate care
because it's so complicated, and the concerns of families are often
ignored."
Gov. Thompson said that Family Care will combine the state’s long
term care programs into one system to provide the maximum range of care
options for seniors and disabled. It will be built upon consumer choice
and one-stop shopping for services.The care management organization is a
major component of the redesigned system. The demonstrations will test the
capacity of the state and the counties to achieve better long term care
outcomes while preserving the important elements of the current long term
care system, such as ensuring an individual's rights and preferences.
The Department of Health and Family Services has already begun testing
resource centers, the other major component of the new Family Care
program. Resource center pilots are operating in eight counties and one
tribe: Fond du Lac, Jackson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Marathon, Milwaukee,
Portage, and Trempealeau counties and the Oneida Tribe. The resource
center pilots are testing a new method of determining functional and
financial eligibility for the redesigned long term care system as well as
developing state-of-the art information and assistance capacity.
Four entities will serve as alternate demonstration sites: Kenosha,
Marathon, and Waukesha counties, and the three-county consortium of Vilas,
Forest, and Oneida. An alternate county would become a pilot care
management organization if one (or more) of the original pilot counties
decides to drop out for whatever reason.
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Last Revised: July 12, 2010
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