California Community Choices Project Update
April 2008
The California Community Choices project is a seminal five-year pilot project (September 1, 2006 ~ September 30, 2011) focused on developing California’s long-term care infrastructure to increase access to home and community-based services and to help divert persons with disabilities and older adults from unnecessary institutionalization. The Choices project is supported by a $3 million Real Choice Systems Transformation Grant awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to the California Health and Human Services Agency.
Progress on Three Goal Areas
- Improved access to long-term support services: development of one-stop system
Activity: Establish two California Aging and Disability Resource Centers (CAL ADRCs) to provide a coordinated system of information, assistance and counseling for anyone seeking long-term services and supports.
Progress: Contracts awards were made to CalOptima in Orange County and Riverside County on Aging. Contract execution in progress.
- Transformation of information technology to support systems change
Activity: Develop and test pilot CalCareNet, the state’s aging and long-term support services website portal, at the two CAL ADRCs.
Progress: Request for Offer to select IT Vendor released on March 28 and rereleased on April 9. Offers received on April 22. Review in progress.
Activity: Commission a Data Warehouse Study to identify barriers to long-term support services data integration & a potential model data warehouse for CA.
Progress: Project activities scheduled to begin June 2008.
- Creation of a system that more effectively manages the funding for long-term supports that promote community living options
Activity: Complete a comprehensive study to improve the State’s understanding of the financial & structural barriers to increasing access to home and community-based services.
Progress: Community Forums were held in Sacramento, Nevada City, Oakland, Los Angeles, Newport Beach and via web cast March 25-28. An online questionnaire was available April 4-18. The purpose of the forums and
questionnaire was to provide an opportunity for people who use long-term services
and supports, their family members or caregivers, local service providers,
advocacy groups, statewide organizations and others to help identify critical problems and solutions that will improve access to long-term services and supports in California.