2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 17b-342a. Pilot program to provide personal care assistance under the home-care program for the elderly.

      Sec. 17b-342a. Pilot program to provide personal care assistance under the home-care program for the elderly. (a) Until June 30, 2006, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, establish and operate a state-funded pilot program to allow no more than one hundred persons who are sixty-five years of age or older and meet the eligibility requirements of the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342 to receive personal care assistance as an alternative covered service to home health services in order to avoid institutionalization, provided the average annual cost to the state per recipient of personal care assistance under the pilot program does not exceed the average annual cost to the state per recipient of home health services under the home-care program. Personal care assistance under the program may be provided by nonspousal family members of the recipient of services under the program.

      (b) In conducting the pilot program, the commissioner or the commissioner's agent (1) may require as a condition of participation that participants in the pilot program disclose if a personal care assistant is a nonspousal family member, (2) shall monitor the provision of services under the pilot program, and (3) shall ensure the cost-effectiveness of the pilot program.

      (c) The commissioner shall establish the maximum allowable rate to be paid for such services under the pilot program and may set a separate lower rate for nonspousal family members providing services as personal care assistants in the pilot program if deemed necessary by the commissioner to ensure cost effectiveness of the pilot program and to conduct the pilot program within available appropriations.

      (d) Not later than January 1, 2006, the Commissioner of Social Services shall submit a report on the pilot program to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and human services and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging. The report shall include information on the quality of services provided under the pilot program and shall be submitted in accordance with section 11-4a.

      (P.A. 04-258, S. 40.)

      History: P.A. 04-258 effective July 1, 2004.