Universal assessments: No Wrong Door system.

Existing law, including, among others, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, provides various programs to assist older adults and people with disabilities. These programs include the Aging and Disability Resource Connection program established to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. By executive order, the Governor ordered that a master plan for aging be developed and issued to serve as a blueprint to implement strategies and partnerships that promote healthy aging and prepare the state for upcoming demographic changes. This bill would require the master plan for aging developed pursuant to that executive order to consider the efficacy of utilizing a No Wrong Door System. The bill would specify the purpose of the No Wrong Door system as assisting older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in obtaining accurate information and timely referrals to appropriate community services and supports. The bill would also require that master plan for aging to consider the efficacy of using a universal tool and process that is capable of assessing individual need and determining initial eligibility for programs and services available in the long-term services and supports delivery network.