SB 998 Summary

• Requires hospitals to provide discharge planning information to patients anticipated to need posthospital care both orally and in writing at the earliest opportunity prior to discharge, including contact information for community-based long-term care options.

• Directs the State Department of Health Care Services to develop or identify a uniform long-term care services assessment tool by July 1, 2012, to help eligible consumers find long-term care services and remain in their homes or communities rather than institutions.

• Requires each county to establish a long-term care case management program for Medi-Cal recipients/applicants and dual-eligible individuals who are in, applying for, or at imminent risk of placement in long-term health care facilities.

• Mandates that counties assign case managers to long-term health care facilities within their jurisdiction and that facilities display posters with the designated case manager's telephone number; facilities must notify case managers when new residents are admitted.

• Establishes reporting and financing requirements, including submission of a legislative report by December 1, 2013, on long-term care assessments performed and implementation contingent on Director of Health Care Services certification of sufficient funding.