WHEREAS, Assisted living is an important component of the long-term care delivery system offering a valuable long-term care service option for persons who need assistance with personal care and other support services; and

WHEREAS, There is an increasing number of frail low-income elders and persons with disabilities, who are in need of assisted living services; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, the State of Rhode Island received approval from the federal government to implement an Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver Program for up to 200 persons as part of its Home and Community Care Program; and

WHEREAS, At the direction of the 2001 Legislature, the State recently received approval from the federal government to increase the number of persons in the Assisted Living Waiver Program by another 180 persons subject to the funding availability; and

WHEREAS, The Assisted Living Waiver Program has reached its original 200 person capacity and will shortly experience a waiting list; and

WHEREAS, The Assisted Living Waiver Program has demonstrated success in providing affordable long-term residential care to low-income frail elders and person with disabilities; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Elderly Affairs, phase in implementation of the additional federally approved 180 units of assisted living in the State Fiscal Year 2003. The additional assisted living units shall be implemented at a rate of 45 additional units each quarter of the State Fiscal Year 2003; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Directors of the Departments of Human Services and Elderly Affairs.