AARP Wisconsin has put out an alert to its members asking them to contact legislators about possible changes to the Family Care program.
Family Care is a long term care system, which allows 60,000 frail elders and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes instead of nursing homes. AARP Wisconsin spokesperson Helen Marks Dicks explains the program...
"....Family Care is the system of long term care in our state. It's really two programs, Family Care and IRIS. They provide medical and personal care services in the home. It allows people to live in the community rather than going to nursing homes...."
Marks-Dicks says Governor Walker proposed privatizing the system in the last state budget. The Joint Finance Committee rejected that proposal, sending it to the Department of Health Services to rework the idea. The matter is likely to surface again.
Marks-Dicks says AARP likes the status quo...
"....we think nothing should happen because the Legislative Fiscal Bureau has shown there's no cost savings to the taxpayers and the whole idea of change was very disruptive to the lives of 60,000 people...."
Marks-Dicks says the program has drawn national praise as a cost saver. She says most people would like to stay in their own homes as long as possible.
Proponents of change said it could cut costs, but Marks-Dicks says the privatization proposal would have turned the program over to insurance companies. More information is on the AARP Wisconsin website.
