Community Choices Act of 2006

Section 1 

Names the Bill, “Community Choices Act of 2006”.

Section 2 

1. Commands the Comptroller of the Treasury to designate the cost of institutionalization for those in Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally retarded, ICF/MR, and Level 1 and Level 2 nursing facilities.

2. Directs the state to have the Money Follow the Person when an individual with an approved PAE moves out of an ICF/MR facility or level 1 and level 2 nursing facilities. This means when a person moves out of the institution the money will come out of the appropriate institutional budget and go into the Home and Community Based Services, HCBS, budget. 

3. Allows the individual to use the current and future waivers and any possible , vouchers, agencies with choice, fiscal intermediaries, direct cash and other service delivery systems that may be developed by the state

Section 3

1. Directs the state to add to current STATEWIDE waivers and/or develop a new waiver that includes services but adds Health Maintenance Activities. A basic definition of health maintenance activities are the day to day things people do routinely such as using the restroom, eating taking medication. This section allows the waiver to provide these services for those that because of their disability can’t do these routine activities.

2. Directs the Bureau of TennCare to add fiscal intermediary and cash and counseling models to be used by the consumer to the STATEWIDE waivers.

Section 4 

Since finding housing in a timely manor is so difficult for individuals this section directs the state to provide a housing subsidy for those qualified and waiting for HUD assistance.

Section 5

1. Directs TennCare to fund a Relocation System to fund Community Based Organizations, CBO, to provide Targeted Case Management through either grants, state contracts or fee for services to pay.

2. Allows the CBO’s to ask for and receive Q1A data, by person, for their service area.

3. Provides for a $2000 Transition Cost Allowance for those receiving Institution to Community Transition Services.

4. Provides for quality assurance of the CBO’s through consumer satisfaction surveys.

Section 6 

Sets up a consumer advisory board of individuals that have received Transition services and selected by the Governor. This Advisory Board along with the Deputy Commissioner of TennCare will produce a yearly report to be presented in writing to the Legislature and the Governor.

Section 7 

Eliminates the ability of Nursing Homes to bill the state for their lobbying expenses.

Section 8 

Changes the states Nurse Practice Act to allow for Nurse Delegation of those services covered under Health Maintenance Activities.

Section 9 

If this bill passes it would take effect July 1, 2006.