WI: Long-Term Care Programs for Elderly, Disabled Go Statewide

Wisconsin health officials say the state’s long-term care programs for the elderly and disabled will be expanded to all 72 counties by early 2018. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced the expansion of Family Care and Include, Respect I Self-Direct (IRIS) to seven more counties over the next 20 months. In June, the state ditched plans to shift coverage from nonprofit providers to for-profit insurance companies. In late July, the health department said Family Care and IRIS — programs that help frail, older people and disabled people stay in their own residences and out of nursing homes — would be made available statewide. Gov. Scott Walker’s 2015–17 budget provided for the expansion. The transition should eliminate the waiting list of more than 500 adults and improve the care of some 3,000 more. The programs will be made available in Adams, Florence, Forest, Oneida, Taylor and Villas counties in 2017 and expanded to Dane County in early 2018.

Source/more: Wisconsin Gazette

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.