Legislation To Watch: SB 512 Long-term Services and Supports

6Beds is supporting a number of important pieces of legislation up for consideration this session that could have a positive impact on residential care facilities and those we serve. One such bill is SB 512, introduced by Dr. Richard Pan, which would create two entities to provide oversight of a proposed trust fund to finance services for some in need of care.

SB 512

Sacramento CapitolSB 512 would establish the California Long-Term Services and Supports Benefits Board (LTSS Board), as well as a Long-Term Services and Supports Advisory Committee. The purpose of the LTSS Board would be to manage and invest revenue deposited in the California Long-Term Services and Supports Benefits Trust Fund (LTSS Trust), which the bill would create to, upon appropriation, finance long-term services and supports for eligible individuals. The LTSS Advisory Committee would provide ongoing advice and recommendations to the LTSS Board.

6Beds is supporting this legislation because California currently has almost 8 million persons who are either older adults or persons with mobility, sensory, intellectual/ developmental, and/or mental health disabilities. This population will grow significantly over the next decade. Long Term Supportive Services (LTSS) are not covered adequately by Medicare, and most Californians cannot afford to purchase private long-term care insurance. Paying out-of-pocket for LTSS is cost prohibitive for many and creates a significant financial and social burden for California families. The creation of a LTSS Board is a positive step in efforts attempting to address this area among many others.

The LTSS Board would consist of 9 specified members including the Treasurer as chair, the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency as vice chair, and three members to be appointed by the Governor. We believe it would be important to include “service providers” to the Long-Term Services and Supports Advisory Committee since they are literally on the front line when it comes to providing housing and care for this vulnerable population and would add significant value and insight.

Make Your Voice Heard!

During the 6Beds conference August 30-31 in Southern California, we’ll be providing updates and ways you can help advocate for 6Beds and make your voice heard.  The only way for us to achieve our collective advocacy goals is for us to make our voices be heard individually on an ongoing basis. Successful advocacy efforts are rarely, if ever, one-time events. They are built on shaping public policy through consistent messaging and relationship building over time.  Don’t delay register to attend 6Beds 2019 ARF & RCFE Annual Conference.