Federal Government Awards California Long-Term Care Education Center With $11.8 Million Grant

Grant to fund pilot project expected to improve health outcomes and save $25 million by lowering ER visits, hospitalization and nursing home stays of seniors and people with disabilities in Los Angeles, San Mateo and Contra Costa counties – potentially impacting the role that over 360,000 California caregivers play in their client's care

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the California Long-Term Care Education Center (CLTCEC) as a recipient of an $11.8 million grant from the new Health Care Innovation Awards made possible by the health care law, the Affordable Care Act.

"Thanks to the health care law, we are giving people in local communities the resources they need to make our health care system stronger," said Secretary Sebelius.

The award to CLTCEC will create a pilot project in Los Angeles, San Mateo and Contra Costa counties that will train an estimated 6,900 In-Home Supportive Service (IHSS) workers to be fully integrated into their client's health care team which is expected to help reduce emergency room visits by seniors and people with disabilities by 23 percent, hospital room admissions from the ER by 23 percent, as well as reducing the average length stay in a nursing home by 10 percent over three years. Through these reductions, savings generated by the pilot project over three years are estimated at $25 million.

"Currently, in-home care providers aren't offered training in home healthcare, nor are they allowed into their client's care team," said Steve Decker, CLTCEC executive director.  "By giving caregivers the training necessary and making them part of their client's health care team, they'll be able to act as a bridge to their client's multiple doctors and ensure that the care being provided at home aligns with the care directives of their client's physicians."

Today, more than 420,000 low-income California seniors and people with disabilities rely on care provided by over 360,000 caregivers through the state's IHSS program in order to live safely at home.  As the state's senior population is projected to double by the year 2040, the demand for in-home care will only increase as will the need to ensure that the highest quality care is being delivered at the greatest cost-savings.

"This grant is an opportunity to show the important role in-home caregivers can play in not only ensuring their client's safety at home, but also improving the overall efficiencies of the health care delivery system," said Decker. 

The grant aligns perfectly with the CLTCEC's mission to ensure quality care for seniors and persons with disabilities in their homes and in facilities through the education and training of long-term care workers.

Of the 3,000 proposals submitted, 107 were selected with the CLTCEC's grant being the 32nd largest grant awarded.  Awardees were chosen for their innovative solutions to the health care challenges facing their communities and for their focus on creating a well-trained health care workforce that is equipped to meet the need for new jobs in the 21st century health care system. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at HHS contracted with an external organization with extensive experience in managing independent grant review processes to administer the award review process to ensure an objective review of each application.

CLTCEC's grant partners include: SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW), Shirley Ware Education Center (SEIU-UHW), L.A. Care Health Plan, Health Plan of San Mateo, Contra Costa County Department of Aging and Health Services, and the UCSF Center for Health Professions.

For more information on CLTCEC, please visit www.cltcec.org.

CONTACT: Scott Mann, 323-333-4850

SOURCE CLTCEC