State Ending Long-Term Institutional Care for Disabled?

‘Critical mass’

As the number of people receiving long-term care at the state’s centers continues to decline, some worry the centers may be shut down altogether. Marsha Hall, who worked at the center from 1975 to 1988 and was the guardian of a CWC resident who died in November, shares this concern.

There “has to be a critical mass of residents” for the facility to function, Hall said. She believes those who are relocated or die should be replaced by people who could benefit from this setting, to keep it viable. She stresses that those who remain at the centers are “medically fragile and complicated folks who really can’t be managed properly in a community setting.”

Bunck said there are no plans to close the centers. Short-term programs will continue to operate and “be an important part of the whole Wisconsin system.”

But as the trend toward deinstitutionalization continues, Underwood warns that more families are being shut out of the decisions that affect the quality of their loved ones lives.

“The decision as to what is the best setting is best left up to families and the individuals’ treating professionals,” she said. “Not DHS personnel sitting in offices far removed from the situation. Not politicians, nor anyone lacking personal knowledge of each particular situation and need.”

Walker’s Budget Proposes Sweeping Changes

Gov. Scott Walker is proposing sweeping changes to the state’s long-term care programs for the elderly and disabled, but the lack of detail has advocates concerned.

Walker’s 2015-17 budget calls for expanding the Family Care program statewide by Jan. 1, 2017. Currently, some individuals are receiving long-term care under other programs including IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct).

“The governor’s Family Care reforms end the state’s fragmented delivery of health and long-term care, while establishing the focus on the overall health and well-being of our members,” said Kitty Rhoades, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, in recent testimony before the Joint Finance Committee.

The budget would eliminate the state statute that created the IRIS program, which currently serves more than 11,000 people with long-term care needs. Rhoades said the services provided to these individuals will continue.

“I spent eight years building self-directed services,” said Rhoades, a former Republican legislator. “I’m not letting up.”

But Barbara Beckert, director of Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Milwaukee office, said the self-direction option of Family Care is “far more limited and has less flexibility” than IRIS. Beckert said few specifics have been provided about the change, and there has been no demonstration that it will lead to fiscal savings.

Beckert is also concerned about the state’s proposal to require managed care organizations to operate statewide as opposed to just in a particular region.

“I’m very dubious that’s going to be a smooth transition and I’m very worried about the safety, independence and well-being of the 55,000 individuals who are counting on these services for their quality of life,” Beckert said.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

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