Rebalancing Long Term Care Initiative
The Rebalancing Long Term Care Initiative is a pilot initiative led by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation intended to decrease reliance on institutional care and increase use of community-based care for adults with significant physical disabilities. Two counties will be involved in the pilot projects: Forsyth and Surry.
The Institute on Aging will provide technical assistance and consultation to the project team and conduct evidence-based evaluation in the second and third year. Bill Lamb, Associate Director for Public Service, is the primary contact for the Institute and will provide ongoing technical assistance and consultation. Jen Craft Morgan, Research Scientist and IOA Associate Director for Research, has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of the program evaluation.
More About The Project
In October 2004, The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received a three-year grant to develop a Rebalancing Plan, designed to decrease reliance on facility-based care and increase availability and use of community-based services. The target population for the project includes Medicaid-eligible adults with significant physical disabilities who are at risk of inappropriate or undesired placement in a residential facility. The ultimate goal of NC’s Rebalancing Project is to examine and adjust the long term care system so that people with significant physical disabilities can remain in their homes and in control for as long as possible. The Rebalancing Plan and its implementation will focus on access, services, quality management and financing.
A Local Rebalancing Committee has been convened with a broad base of representatives from Forsyth and Surry counties, the area selected as the pilot test site for the plan. This Committee will identify issues and barriers and will determine whether they need to be addressed on the local or state level. The Committee will develop a draft Plan that will include findings and recommendations in the following areas:
• access to comprehensive information and simplified eligibility;
• services that are readily available to support individuals and families;
• quality management mechanisms; and
• financing of programs and services.
State level recommendations will also be addressed during year two by relevant DHHS Divisions. The Plan will be refined, based on evidence from the pilot sites and data gathered from people with disabilities and other key stakeholders. During year three, the Rebalancing Plan will be finalized and a plan for implementation statewide will be created.
For More Information
Contact Bill Lamb
