Relates to establishing a special needs assisted living demonstration program

• Democratic6

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Nathalia Fernandez says this is needed

The Medicaid funded Assisted Living Program (also known as the "ALP") serves individuals who are medically eligible for nursing home care in a more independent, lower cost setting. This program provides room, board, personal care and therapy to thousands of low-income New Yorkers, allow- ing them to maintain their independence. The scope and reimbursement structure of the ALP does not currently contemplate the provision of specialized services to individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia. As such, many seniors who rely on Medicaid, and who develop these types of conditions, end up being forced to trans- fer to a nursing home whether they need that level of care or not at a much higher cost to the state. Alzheimer's dementia prevalence continues to increase in the United States, with cost of care exceeding $350 billion dollars 1. In New York State alone, over 426,000 individuals aged 65 and older currently have Alzheimer's. The need for specialized settings to care for this popu- lation, including for Medicaid beneficiaries, will continue to grow over time as our population ages as will the cost of caring for them. This legislation would authorize the Department of Health to allow up to three ALP providers to serve individuals with special needs as part of a demonstration, to test the feasibility of the model and the potential for cost savings to the state resulting from caring for individuals in a lower cost setting. (1) Alzheimer's Association. 2025 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. https://vvww.alz.org/getmedia/ ef8f48f9-ad36-48ea-87f9-b74034635cle/ alzheimers-facts-andfigures.pdf

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.