News from Care Wisconsin

June 17, 2008  

Family Care Opens in Waushara County,
Benefits Frail Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Community leaders, advocates and service providers gathered today in Wautoma to celebrate a milestone in the state’s long-term care redesign, the opening of Family Care in Waushara County. Hundreds of frail seniors and adults with disabilities now have more choices and improved access to needed health and long-term care services.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the World War II Memorial Building also marked the opening of
Care Wisconsin’s care team offices at 205 West Elm St., Wautoma. Care Wisconsin is the care management organization contracted with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services to manage the Family Care program in the county.

“We are proud to be part of Family Care in Waushara County,” says Karen Musser, CEO of Care Wisconsin. “This is a positive step forward to ensuring that frail seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and adults with physical disabilities get access to quality services when they need them.”

Musser recognized the collaborative relationship between the county’s human services department and the nonprofit Care Wisconsin. Waushara joins six other counties to implement Family Care this year, including Chippewa, Columbia, Dunn, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington. Currently, Family Care is in 16 counties throughout central and southern Wisconsin. By year-end, 22 counties will have Family Care.

Waushara County began services under the Family Care program on June 1. By July, 58 area residents will be enrolled in Family Care and receiving long-term care services coordinated by Care Wisconsin’s local care teams. Almost 240 of the county's frail seniors and adults with disabilities already qualify for Family Care. This includes over 80 area residents who have been on a waiting list for services.

In two months, the county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center and Care Wisconsin have moved eight individuals off the waiting list. Advocates point out that under the old system consumers could wait months or even years for services.

“Wisconsin is embarking on a historic journey with statewide changes to the delivery of long-term care services. Family Care will bring to our consumers and county a more level playing field for care and eventually eliminate waiting lists for services,” says Glen Johnson, human services director.

Members of Care Wisconsin’s Family Care program have access to a local provider network for needed community-based services, such as in-home personal care, medical equipment, assisted living, physical therapy, transportation and help with employment. At the core of Family Care is a member-centered approach to care and the extra support of a care team, which includes a care manager/social worker and a nurse.

“Our focus is on total well-being, prevention and early intervention to maintain independence and quality of life,” says Musser.

Family Care is designed to be more cost-effective, increase consumer choice and safeguard against unnecessary nursing home placements due to delays for community-based services. It replaces Medicaid waiver programs known as the Community Options Program (COP) and Community Integration Program (CIP). Individuals in COP and CIP are transitioned to Family Care at one-sixth per month, and those on the waiting list are transitioned at one twenty-fourth per month through 2010 when Family Care becomes an entitlement.

In addition to Waushara County, Care Wisconsin will manage Family Care in eight other counties this year, including Columbia, Dodge, Green Lake, Jefferson, Marquette, Sauk, Waukesha and Washington.

For more information on Family Care, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center at
(920) 787-6505 or toll-free 1-877-883-5378, or visit its office at 209 South Saint Marie St., Wautoma.

For more information on Care Wisconsin, call (920) 787-6710 or toll-free 1-866-599-6317, or visit its office at 205 West Elm St., Wautoma.

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