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Public Hearings Offer Residents A Chance To Weigh In On Long-Term Care Changes

Programs Provide Daily Support To Thousands Of Elderly, Disabled Wisconsinites

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is holding two public hearings on Monday on a plan to change the programs that provide long-term care to the elderly and disabled.

The redesign of the IRIS and Family Care programs will affect 60,000 people who need help with daily activities like getting out bed, using the bathroom and going to work.

Tom Novotny, who is on the board of the Arc-Dane County, an advocacy group for children and adults with developmental disabilities, said he has concerns about the redesign. “My concern is if there are no patient satisfaction measures for this, how are we going to keep it patient-centered?” he said.

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Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades has said that those in the program can continue to hire their own caregivers if they want. The state’s proposal aims to slow cost increases by streamlining services to avoid more drastic changes like decreasing eligibility or reducing benefits.

But Novotny said cost reductions may eventually be so large that providers may leave the program. He is also concerned the state has not yet named the insurance companies and provider networks. He questions whether they will be in state which he believes would make them more accountable.

Wisconsin’s long-term care coalition has put out a blueprint of what they’d like to see in the redesign of the programs helping elderly and disabled.