News from Care Wisconsin

September 25, 2008

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

Community leaders, advocates and service providers gathered today in Jefferson to celebrate a milestone in the state’s long-term care redesign, the opening of Family Care in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County’s Workforce Development Center also marked the opening of Care Wisconsin’s care team offices, 824 W. Racine St., in Jefferson. Care Wisconsin is the care management organization contracted with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to manage the two Family Care programs—Family Care and Partnership—in the county.

“We are proud to be part of Family Care in Jefferson County,” says Karen Musser, Chief Executive Officer 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 and don’t go on a waiting list.”

Musser recognized the collaborative relationship between the state, the Jefferson County Human Services Department, and the nonprofit Care Wisconsin. Karen Timberlake, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and Jefferson County officials also joined in the event.

Area residents began receiving health and long-term care services under Family Care on
September 1. More than 570 people in the county will transition from current Medicaid waiver programs to Family Care by the end of the year. There’s also another 168 people who have been waiting for long-term care services and will begin receiving services within 24 months.

Timberlake spoke about the state’s history of managed long-term care and progress made since 2006 when Governor Jim Doyle announced his goal to expand Family Care statewide, eliminate waiting lists for community-based care, and promote the integration of health and long-term care services over the next five years.

In 2010, Family Care will become an entitlement ensuring people will no longer need to wait for community-based alternatives to nursing home care. Advocates point out that under the old system people could wait months or even years for services. About 11,000 people remain on waiting lists for community-based care statewide.

Care Wisconsin has been working closely with the county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to enroll people in Family Care and move people from the waiting list. The ADRC is the single point of entry for residents to receive non-biased options counseling, to determine eligibility and to access long-term care services.

“Family Care offers hope to our families, neighbors and friends who ultimately will find themselves dealing with life situations to which there have been no good solutions,” says Susan Torum, Manager of the Jefferson County Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Family Care Program Choice
“Drawing from over 32 years of experience in long-term care and managing complex programs,
Care Wisconsin understands the importance of offering flexible programs that respect individual choices,” says Musser.

In Jefferson County, people have the choice between two care management programs: Family Care and Partnership.

The basic Family Care program includes long-term care services available through home and community-based waiver programs, and some Medicaid services. Services include in-home personal care, adult day care, medical equipment, assisted living, transportation and help with employment.

The enhanced Partnership program covers all services in the basic Family Care program, plus offers one-stop shopping for Medicare-covered health and medical services, and prescription drugs. Additional services include physician care, dental services and hospital care.

At the core of both programs is a member-centered approach to care and the extra support of a care team. “Our focus is on total well-being, prevention and early intervention to maintain independence and quality of life,” says Musser.

Care teams include the member and an array of caring staff, such as a care manager/social worker, registered nurse and/or nurse practitioner. Together, members and their care teams create personalized service plans, designed to be flexible and help members achieve goals. Members also have the option to self direct some or all of their services, including selecting hands-on care providers.

In addition to Jefferson County, Care Wisconsin is managing Family Care in eight other counties, including Columbia, Dodge, Green Lake, Marquette, Sauk, Washington, Waukesha and Waushara, in 2008.

For more information about Family Care in Jefferson County, call (920) 674-8734 or toll-free
1-866-740-2372, or visit the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1541 Annex Rd. in Jefferson.

For more information about Care Wisconsin, call (920) 674-8010 or toll-free 1-877-496-3851, or visit its care team offices at 824 W. Racine St. in Jefferson.

Photo 1: (l-r) Sue Torum, Manager of Jefferson County Aging and Disability Resource Center; Karen Musser, Chief Executive Officer of Care Wisconsin; Tom Schleitwiler, Director of Jefferson County Human Services Department; Family Care member Christopher Loomis, a resident of Fort Atkinson; and Karen Timberlake, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Photo 2: (l-r) Senator Neal Kedzie and Representative Stephen Nass.

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