Long term care stakeholder work group meets for second time

Last week, the Department of Human Services (DHS) facilitated the second meeting of the Long Term Care Stakeholder Work Group. The work group is a result of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s executive reorganization that created the Division of Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) and transition of certain DSS services to DHS. The purpose of the work group is to set goals regarding LTSS in community settings for long-term care.

The group consists of members representing providers and consumers across all areas of LTSS as well as state legislators Sen. Deb Soholt and Rep. Jean Hunhoff. SDAHO members include Mark Burket from Platte Care Center Avera and Jen Porter, vice president of post-acute care.

Goals identified include:

  • Increasing the percentage of Medicaid expenditures going to home- and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and adults with disabilities
  • Increasing the number of contacts to the Aging and Disability Resource Connections website
  • Increasing the rate by which those receiving state supported HCBS will have a person-centered care plan
  • Decreasing the percentage of people with low care needs being supported by Medicaid in nursing facilities
  • Increasing the number of persons receiving HCBS before being admitted to a nursing facility

The next two quarterly meetings are planned for November 15, 2017, and March 14, 2018, in Pierre.