58B-1.001. Definitions

In addition to the definitions included in Chapter 430, F.S., the following terms shall apply in this rule chapter:

(1) Access Point: A service provider or other entity that performs one or more aging resource center functions under an agreement with the aging resource center. The agreement can be in the form of a referral agreement, contract, memorandum of understanding, or any similar document.

(2) Aging Resource Center (ARC): An entity approved by the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA), accessible through multiple entry points, that provides access to economic and long-term care services for all elders and their families, regardless of ability to pay. The eligibility functions are determined by the Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-term Care Services (CARES)/DOEA and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Economic Self – Sufficiency (ESS) programs integrated through collocation of DOEA and DCF staff.

(a) Determination of financial and technical eligibility for all public assistance programs, including Medicaid, is the responsibility of DCF/ESS staff.

(b) Determination of medical eligibility for Medicaid waiver services and nursing home placement is the responsibility of DOEA/CARES staff.

(c) The ARC coordinates the following functions under its contract with DOEA:

1. Access: Providing elders, their families and caregivers a customer friendly way to gain long-term care information and entry into services and programs.

2. Information: Responding to an inquiry from a person, or on behalf of a person, regarding public and private resources and available services.

3. Referral: Obtaining information about a person’s needs; directing people to resources most capable of meeting the need; contacting the resource for the person as needed. (Follow-up is mandatory to determine the outcome of the Referral/Assistance.)

4. Screening: Performing standard data collection to gather information about an applicant for services and to conduct preliminary evaluation of eligibility for assistance.

5. Triaging: Sorting applicants for long-term care services and prioritizing access on the basis of need for or likely benefit from long-term care services.

6. Eligibility Determination: Reviewing and analyzing program specific criteria in order to decide if an individual is qualified to receive publicly funded program services.

7. Long-Term Care Options: Answering questions and providing unbiased information on available long-term care service options and advising on what factors to consider when selecting a program or provider.

8. Choice Counseling: Exploring all available alternatives to nursing facility placement and recommending placement and proper support services in the least restrictive, most appropriate setting possible; performed by DOEA CARES staff.

9. Fiscal Control: Maximizing the use, efficiency and targeting of public resources. Tools include Assessed Priority Consumer List (wait list) management and care plan review.

10. Quality Assurance: Ensuring that performance is in the client’s best interest and long-term care services are cost-effective, of high quality, and responsive and appropriate to assessed needs.

(3) Aging Resource Center client: An individual currently receiving services through any of the programs referred by the ARC, including individuals referred to private providers.

(4) Executive Director: An individual who shall be delegated responsibility for the ARC management and implementation of governing body policy; and who shall be accountable to the governing body for the ARC’s performance. The ARC executive director may be the same individual who serves as the area agency on aging executive director.

(5) Governing Body: The board of the area agency on aging.

(6) Information and Referral Specialist: The staff person(s) responsible for providing:

(a) Information to individuals regarding public and private resources;

(b) Referral of individuals to the resources capable of meeting their needs; and

(c) Follow-up on referrals.

(7) Intake, Screening and Triaging Professional: The staff person(s) responsible for carrying out the following duties and responsibilities:

(a) For Title XIX (Medicaid/MedWaiver) services:

1. Assisting in the initial preliminary determination of programs and services that may serve the needs of the individual; and

2. Providing information on eligibility criteria and the application process.

(b) For other funded services (Older Americans Act, Community Care for the Elderly, Home Care for the Elderly, Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative, and contracted services), determining an applicant’s:

1. Potential eligibility for non-Medicaid programs;

2. Prioritized need for long-term care services; and

3. Priority for a comprehensive assessment.

Rulemaking Authority 430.08, 430.2053(10) FS. Law Implemented 430.2053 FS. History–New 4-16-07.