MONROE - The Green County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to enter into a long-term care agreement with seven other counties.
The eight counties, Green, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland and Sauk, will work together for easier long-term care help at a lower cost.
Green County Human Services Director Greg Holcomb said Green County spent about $250,000 on long-term health care in 2007. The county only has a certain amount of money to spend every year because of its budget. Many people who come in to Green County Human Services are put on a waiting list until funding is available.
Holcomb estimates there are about 150 people on waiting lists in Green County. They include seniors and disabled people who might be on a waiting list for several months, even years.
"It's a joke," he said of the waiting lists. "Some people have to wait up to 10 years to receive services."
The new program, which allows the eight counties to work with the state, will allow human services in each county to spend an average of $2,500 per month per person to help with their health and physical needs. Holcomb said within two years the waiting list will be eliminated.
Some people will require less than the $2,500 while others will need more, he said. Holcomb said the county will be able to help everyone who needs assistance.
Over the past two years the state has set aside about $80 million for the program. Holcomb said the eight counties have been negotiating and working with the state on an agreement for two years.
The state will provide the majority of the money, he said. Green County will be required to pay $218,000, the amount it budgeted for long-term health care when the project first got underway in 2006.
Holcomb said the cost to the county will not increase for the next five years. The state could only change funding through legislation. Holcomb said it's unlikely the state would ever withdraw funding for the program. If it does, the counties could opt out of the consortium and go back to how they operate now.
There will be a 15-member board made up of people from the eight counties to oversee the program. Green County will have three representatives to the board.
The Green County Board of Supervisors had to pass the resolution Tuesday so the contract could be signed with the other counties and the state by July 1.
The board passed the resolution 27-0.
The eight counties, Green, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland and Sauk, will work together for easier long-term care help at a lower cost.
Green County Human Services Director Greg Holcomb said Green County spent about $250,000 on long-term health care in 2007. The county only has a certain amount of money to spend every year because of its budget. Many people who come in to Green County Human Services are put on a waiting list until funding is available.
Holcomb estimates there are about 150 people on waiting lists in Green County. They include seniors and disabled people who might be on a waiting list for several months, even years.
"It's a joke," he said of the waiting lists. "Some people have to wait up to 10 years to receive services."
The new program, which allows the eight counties to work with the state, will allow human services in each county to spend an average of $2,500 per month per person to help with their health and physical needs. Holcomb said within two years the waiting list will be eliminated.
Some people will require less than the $2,500 while others will need more, he said. Holcomb said the county will be able to help everyone who needs assistance.
Over the past two years the state has set aside about $80 million for the program. Holcomb said the eight counties have been negotiating and working with the state on an agreement for two years.
The state will provide the majority of the money, he said. Green County will be required to pay $218,000, the amount it budgeted for long-term health care when the project first got underway in 2006.
Holcomb said the cost to the county will not increase for the next five years. The state could only change funding through legislation. Holcomb said it's unlikely the state would ever withdraw funding for the program. If it does, the counties could opt out of the consortium and go back to how they operate now.
There will be a 15-member board made up of people from the eight counties to oversee the program. Green County will have three representatives to the board.
The Green County Board of Supervisors had to pass the resolution Tuesday so the contract could be signed with the other counties and the state by July 1.
The board passed the resolution 27-0.